9IF 


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MAYNARD'S 

ENGLISH  •  CLASSIC-  SERIES 

^ 


NEW  YORK 

MAYNARD,  MERRILL  &  Co. 

,  SI  &  3&  EAST  19™  ST. 


n 


EDUCATION  DEPT. 


ENGLISH  CLASSIC  SERIES.— No    112  113-114. 

THE    AUTOBIOGRAPHY 

OP 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

PREPARED  FOR  USE  IN  SCHOOLS. 


WITH  INTRODUCTION,  NOTES,  AND  A  SUPPLEMENTARY  SKETCH, 
CONCLUDING  THE  STORY  OF   FRANKLIN'S  LIFE,  PRE 
SENTED  MAINLY  IN  HIS  OWN  WORDS. 


BY 

J.   W.    ABERNETHY,  PH.D. 


NEW   YORK: 

MAYNARD,  MERRILL  &  Co.,  PUBLISHERS, 
43   45,  AND  47  EAST  TENTH  STREET 


EDUCATION  DEPTo 
A  COMPLETE  COURSE  IN  THE  STUDY  OF  ENGLISH. 


Spelling,  Language,  Grammar,  Composition,  Literature. 


Reed's  Word  Lessons— A  Complete  Speller. 
Reed's  Introductory  Language  Work. 

Reed  &  Kellogg's  Graded  Lessons  in  English. 
Reed  &  Kellogg's  Higher  Lessons  in  English. 

Reed  &  Kellogg's  One-Book  Course  in  English. 
Kellogg  &  Reed's  Word  Building. 

Kellogg  &  Reed's  The  English  Language. 
Kellogg's  Text-Book  on  Rhetoric. 
Kellogg's  Illustrations  of  Style. 

Kellogg's   Text-Book  on  English  Literature. 


*t  'Jft  the\p're!p£i&Hcn;of  this  series  the  authors  have  had  one  object 
clearly  in  view— to  so  develop  the  study  of  the  English  language  as 
ta  prfescrit  A.  complete,  progressive  course,  from  the  Spelling-Book  to 
the;  study,  of  Eogl'Sh  Literature.  The  troublesome  contradictions 
which  arise  in  using  books  arranged  by  different  authors  on  these 
subjects,  and  which  require  much  time  for  explanation  in  the  school 
room,  will  be  avoided  by  the  use  of  the  above  "  Complete  Course." 
Teachers  are  earnestly  invited  to  examine  these  books. 

MAYNARD,  MERRILL,  &  Co.,  PUBLISHERS, 

43,  45,  and  47  East  Tenth  St.,  New  York. 


Copyright,  1892,  by  EFFINGHAM  MAYNARD  &  Co. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  Autobiography  of  Benjamin  Franklin  is  an  American 
classic,  and  it  is  the  earliest  product  of  our  national  genius  entitled 
to  that  distinction.  Its  author  was  not  a  man  of  letters,  yet  he 
wrote  extensively  ;  and  a  few  of  his  essays,  the  sayings  of  Poor 
Richard,  and  the  Autobiography  will  always  give  him  a  promi 
nent  place  in  the  history  of  American  literature.  He  cultivated 
letters  and  the  art  of  expression  because  he  saw  their  practical 
value  in  the  struggle  for  business  success,  and  his  writings  are  an 
excellent  illustration  of  the  utility  of  the  highest  literary  qualities 
in  the  common  employments  of  every-day  life.  The  ease  with 
which  he  wielded  the  pen,  added  to  the  habit  of  observing  care 
fully  and  thinking  clearly,  made  him  a  leader  and  teacher  of  men. 

"The  perennial  charm  of  his  Autobiography  is  like  that  of 
Robinson  Crusoe,"  says  George  William  Curtis  ;  and  this  charm 
is  due  largely  to  a  style  that  in  its  crystal  clearness  and  forceful 
simplicity  is  the  equal  of  that  of  De  Foe.  Plain,  idiomatic,  direct, 
with  no  ornament  or  grace  except  such  as  is  native  to  the  thought, 
the  language  forms  a  perfect  transcript  of  the  writer's  mind.  One 
is  never  in  doubt  about  Franklin's  meaning.  But  this  charm  is  due 
still  more  to  the  picturesque  and  noble  personality  portrayed  in  the 
Autobiography.  It  records  the  career  of  one  who  from  poverty 
arose  to  be  revered  by  the  greatest  and  wisest  of  two  continents. 
Few  men  have  influenced  the  world  so  widely  and  permanently  as 
Franklin. 

"Clear  rather  than  subtle,"  says  Prof.  Beers,  "  without  ideality 
or  romance  or  fineness  of  emotion  or  poetic  lift,  intensely  practical 
and  utilitarian,  broad-minded,  inventive,  shrewd,  versatile,  Frank 
lin's  sturdy  figure  became  typical  of  his  time  and  his  people." 
He  was  the  first  great  American,  and  his  greatness  was  of  many 

MI  p.'ti  fin 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

kinds.  He  was  a  distinguished  scientist  and  practical  inventor. 
Bancroft  calls  him  "the  greatest  diplomatist  of  his  century."  He 
was  a  great  moral  teacher,  the  supreme  philosopher  of  common- 
sense  and  the  useful  virtues.  Says  his  latest  biographer,  Mr. 
Morse:  "He  was  one  of  the  most,  perhaps  the  most  agreeable 
conversationist  of  his  age.  He  was  a  rare  wit  and  humorist,  and 
in  an  age  when  '  American  humor  '  was  still  unborn,  amid  contem 
poraries  who  have  left  no  trace  of  a  jest,  still  less  of  the  faintest 
appreciation  of  humor,  all  which  he  said  and  wrote  was  brilliant 
with  both  these  most  charming  qualities  of  the  human  mind." 
And  he  concludes  :  "By  the  instruction  which  he  gave,  by  his 
discoveries,  by  his  inventions,  and  by  his  achievements  in  public 
life  he  earns  the  distinction  of  having  rendered  to  men  varied  and 
useful  services  excelled  by  no  other  one  man  ;  and  thus  he  has 
established  a  claim  upon  the  gratitude  of  mankind  so  broad  that 
history  holds  few  who  can  be  his  rivals." 

The  only  complete  and  correct  edition  of  the  Autobiography  is 
that  edited  by  the  Hon.  John  Bigelow,  who  obtained  the  original 
MS.  in  France  and  first  gave  it  to  the  public  in  1868.  By  the 
courtesy  of  Mr.  Bigelow  and  his  publishers,  the  J.  B.  Lippincott 
Co.,  we  are  permitted  to  use  the  authorized  text  in  the  preparation 
of  this  edition.  A  few  passages  unsuitable  for  the  class-room 
have  been  omitted,  and  also  the  two  letters  mentioned  on  page 
75.  In  order  that  the  book  may  be  thoroughly  adapted  for  the 
reading  of  young  pupils,  the  spelling  has  been  modernized  and  a 
few  grammatical  errors  corrected;  otherwise  the  text  is  given  just 
as  Franklin  wrote  it.  The  supplementary  sketch  of  Franklin's 
life  from  the  point  where  the  Autobiography  ends  will  serve,  it  is 
hoped,  as  an  inducement  to  read  more  of  the  charming  letters  con 
tained  in  Mr.  Bigelow's  "  Life  of  Benjamin  Franklin,"  a  work  of 
inestimable  value  to  teachers  as  well  as  pupils.  Also  additional 
reading  should  be  encouraged  in  such  works  as  Parton's  "  Life  and 
Times  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  "Morse's  "Life  of  Franklin"  (Amer 
ican  Statesmen  Series),  and  Hale's  "Franklin  in  France."  The 
needed  explanations  of  public  events  connected  with  Franklin's 
career  will  generally  be  found  in  the  text-book  of  United  States 
history,  with  which  the  Autobiography  should  always  be  used. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY 

OF 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 


TWYFORD.  at  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph's,  1771. 

DEAR  SON:  I  have  ever  had  pleasure  in  obtaining  any  little 
anecdotes  of  my  ancestors.  You  may  remember  the  inquiries 
I  made  among  the  remains  of  my  relations  when  you  were  with 
me  in  England,  and  the  journey  I  undertook  for  that  purpose. 
Imagining  it  may  be  equally  agreeable  to  you  to  know  the  cir 
cumstances  of  my  life,  many  of  which  you  are  yet  unacquainted 
with,  and  expecting  the  enjoyment  of  a  week's  uninterrupted 
leisure  in  my  present  country  retirement,1  I  sit  down  to  write 
them  for  you.  To  which  I  have  besides  some  other  induce 
ments.  Having  emerged  from  the  poverty  and  obscurity  in 
which  I  was  born  and  bred,  to  a  state  of  affluence  and  some 
degree  of  reputation  in  the  world,  and  having  gone  so  far 
through  life  with  a  considerable  share  of  felicity,  the  conduc 
ing  means  I  made  use  of,  which  with  the  blessing  of  God  so 
well  succeeded,  my  posterity  may  like  to  know,  as  they  may 
find  some  of  them  suitable  to  their  own  situations,  and  there 
fore  fit  to  be  imitated. 

Thai  felicity,  when  I  reflected  on  it,  has  induced  me  some 
times  to  say,  that  were  it  offered  to  my  choice,  I  should  have 

1.  He  was  at  Twyford,  England,  visiting  his  friend  the  Bishop  of  St. 
Asaph,  Dr.  Jonathan  Shipley,  "  America's  constant  friend,"  as  he  called 
him. 


6  BENJAMIN   FKANKLLN". 


to  a  i'epctitibn'of  the  same  life  from  its  beginning, 
only  asking  the  advantages  authors  have  in  a  second  edition 
to  correct  some  faults  of  the  first.  So  I  might,  besides  cor 
recting  the  faults,  change  some  sinister  accidents  and  events 
of  it  for  others  more  favorable.  But  though  this  were  denied, 
I  should  still  accept  the  offer.  Since  such  a  repetition  is  not  to 
be  expected,  the  next  thing  most  like  living  one's  life  over  again 
seems  to  be  a  recollection  of  that  life,  and  to  make  that  recol 
lection  as  durable  as  possible  by  putting  it  down  in  writing, 
y  Hereby,  too,  I  shall  indulge  the  inclination  so  natural  in  old 
men,  to  be  talking  of  themselves  and  their  own  past  actions; 
and  I  shall  indulge  it  without  being  tiresome  to  others,  who, 
through  respect  to  age,  might  conceive  themselves  obliged 
to  give  me  a  hearing,  since  this  may  be  read  or  not  as  any  one 
pleases.  And,  lastly  (I  may  as  well  confess  it,  since  my  denial 
of  it  will  be  believed  by  nobody),  perhaps  I  shall  a  good  deal 
gratify  my  own  vanity.  Indeed,  I  scarce  ever  heard  or  saw 
the  introductory  words,  "  Without  vanity,  I  may  say,"  etc., 
but  some  vain  thing  immediately  followed.  Most  people  dis 
like  vanity  in  others,  whatever  share  they  may  have  of  it 
themselves;  but  I  give  it  fair  quarter  wherever  I  meet  with  it, 
being  persuaded  that  it  is  often  productive  of  good  to  the  pos 
sessor,  and  to  others  that  are  within  his  sphere  of  action;  and 
therefore,  in  many  cases,  it  would  not  be  altogether  absurd  if 
a  man  were  to  thank  God  for  his  vanity  among  the  other 
comforts  of  life. 

And  now  I  speak  of  thanking  God,  I  desire  with  all  humil 
ity  to  acknowledge  that  I  owe  the  mentioned  happiness  of  my 
past  life  to  His  kind  providence,  which  led  me  to  the  means 
I  used  and  gave  them  success.  My  belief  of  this  induces  me 
to  hope,  though  I  must  not  presume,  that  the  same  goodness 
will  still  be  exercised  toward  me,  in  continuing  that  happi 
ness,  or  enabling  me  to  bear  a  fatal  reverse,  which  I  may  ex 
perience  as  others  have  done;  the  complexion  of  my  future 
fortune  being  known  to  Him  only  in  whose  power  it  is  to  bless 
to  us  even  our  afflictions. 

The  notes   one  of  my  uncles  (who  had  the  same  kind  of 


BENJAMIN   FRAXKLIX.  7 

curiosity  in  collecting  family  anecdotes)  once  put  into  my 
hands,  furnished  me  with  several  particulars  relating  to  our 
ancestors.  From  these  notes  I  learned  that  the  family  had 
lived  in  the  same  village,  Ecton,  in  Northamptonshire,  for 
three  hundred  years,  and  how  much  longer  he  knew  not  (per 
haps  from  the  time  when  the  name  of  Franklin,  that  before 
was  the  name  of  an  order  of  people,1  was  assumed  by  them  as 
a  surname  when  others  took  surnames  all  over  the  kingdom), 
on  a  freehold  of  about  thirty  acres,  aided  by  the  smith's  busi 
ness,  which  had  continued  in  the  family  till  his  time,  the 
eldest  son  being  always  bred  to  that  business  ;  a  custom  which 
he  and  my  father  followed  as  to  their  eldest  sons/'  When  I 
searched  the  registers  at  Ecton,  I  found  an  account  of  their 
births,  marriages,  and  burials  from  the  year  1555  only,  there 
being  no  registers  kept  in  that  parish  at  any  time  preceding. 
By  that  register  I  perceived  that  1  was  the  youngest  son  of  the 
youngest  son  for  five  generations  back.  My  grandfather 
Thomas,  who  was  born  in  1598,  lived  at  Ecton  till  he  grew 
too  old  to  follow  business  longer,  when  he  went  to  live  with 
his  son  John,  a  dyer  at  Banbury,  in  Oxfordshire,  with  whom 
my  father  served  an  apprenticeship.  There  my  grandfather 
died  and  lies  buried.  We  saw  his  gravestone  in  1758.  His 
eldest  son  Thomas  lived  in  the  house  at  Ecton,  and  left  it  with 
the  land  to  his  only  child,  a  daughter,  who,  with  her  husband, 
one  Fisher,  of  TTellingborough,  sold  it  to  Mr.  Isted,  now  lord 
of  the  manor  there.  My  grandfather  had  four  sons  that  grew 
up,  viz. :  Thomas,  John,  Benjamin,  and  Josiah.  I  will  give 
you  what  account  I  can  of  them,  at  this  distance  from  my 
papers,  and  if  these  are  not  lost  in  my  absence,  you  will 
among  them  find  many  more  particulars. 

Thomas  was  bred  a  smith  under  his  father;  but,  being  in 
genious,  and  encouraged  in  learning  (as  all  my  brothers 
were)  by  an  Esquire  Palmer,  then  the  principal  gentleman  in. 


1.  A  Franklin,  or  Frankelein,  was  a  freeholder  or  small  landholder; 
originally  the  son  or  descendant  of  a  vilein  or  common  laborer  who  had 
become  rich.  Chaucer  pictures  the  Frankelein,  in  his  "Prologue,"  as  the 
representative  of  a  class  of  country  gentlemen. 


8  BENJAMIN   FRANKLItf. 

that  parish,  he  qualified  himself  for  the  business  of  scrivener; 
became  a  considerable  man  in  the  county;  was  a  chief  mover 
of  all  public-spirited  undertakings  for  the  county  or  town  of 
Northampton,  and  his  own  village,  of  which  many  instances 
were  related  of  him;  and  much  taken  notice  of  and  patronized 
by  the  then  Lord  Halifax.  He  died  in  1702,  January  6,  old 
style,  just  four  years  to  a  day  before  I  was  born.  The  account 
we  received  of  his  life  and  character  from  some  old  people  at 
Ecton,  I  remember,  struck  you  as  something  extraordinary, 
from  its  similarity  to  what  you  knew  of  mine.  "  Had  he  died 
on  the  same  day,"  you  said,  "  one  might  have  supposed  a 
transmigration." 

John  was  bred  a  dyer,  I  believe,  of  woolens.  Benjamin 
was  bred  a  silk-dyer,  serving  an  apprenticeship  at  London. 
He  was  an  ingenious  man.  I  remember  him  well,  for  when  I 
was  a  boy  he  came  over  to  my  father  in  Boston,  and  lived  in 
the  house  with  us  some  years.  He  lived  to  a  great  age.  His 
grandson,  Samuel  Franklin,  now  lives  in  Boston.  He  left 
behind  him  two  quarto  volumes,  MS.,  of  his  own  poetry,  con 
sisting  of  little  occasional  pieces  addressed  to  his  friends  and 
relations,  of  which  the  following,  sent  to  me,  is  a  specimen.1 
He  had  formed  a  short-hand  of  his  own,  which  he  taught  me, 
but,  never  practicing  it,  I  have  now  forgot  it.  I  was  named 
after  this  uncle,  there  being  a  particular  affection  between 
him  and  my  father.  He  was  very  pious,  a  great  attender  of 
sermons  of  the  best  preachers,  which  he  took  down  in  his 
short-hand,  and  had  with  him  many  volumes  of  them.  He 
was  also  much  of  a  politician;  too  much,  perhaps,  for  his 
station.  There  fell  lately  into  my  hands,  in  London,  a  collec 
tion  he  had  made  of  all  the  principal  pamphlets  relating  to 
public  affairs,  from  1641  to  1717;  many  of  the  volumes  are 
wanting  as  appears  by  the  numbering,  but  there  still  remain 
eight  volumes  in  folio,  and  twenty-four  in  quarto  and  in  octavo. 
A  dealer  in  old  books  met  with  them,  and  knowing  me  by  my 
sometimes  buying  of  him,  he  brought  them  to  me.  It  seems 

1.  Franklin  failed  to  insert  the  poetry. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  9 

my  uncle  must  have  left  them  here  when  he  went  to  America, 
which  was  above  fifty  years  since.  There  are  many  of  hig 
notes  in  the  margins. 

This  obscure  family  of  ours  was  early  in  the  Reformation, 
and  continued  Protestants  through  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary, 
when  they  were  sometimes  in  danger  of  trouble  on  account  of 
their  zeal  against  popery.  They  had  got  an  English  Bible, 
and  to  conceal  and  secure  it,  it  was  fastened  open  with  tapes 
under  and  within  the  cover  of  a  joint-stool.  When  my  great- 
great-grandfather  read  it  to  his  family,  he  turned  up  the 
joint-stool  upon  his  knees,  turning  over  the  leaves  then  under 
the  tapes.  One  of  the  children  stood  at  the  door  to  give 
notice  if  he  saw  the  apparitor  coming,  who  was  an  officer  of 
the  spiritual  court.  In  that  case  the  stool  was  turned  down 
again  upon  its  feet,  when  the  Bible  remained  concealed  under 
it  as  before.  This  anecdote  I  had  from  my  uncle  Benjamin. 
The  family  continued  all  of  the  Church  of  England  till  about 
the  end  of  Charles  the  Second's  reign,  when  some  of  the 
ministers  that  had  been  outed  for  non-conformity  holding 
conventicles  in  Northamptonshire,  Benjamin  and  Josiah 
adhered  to  them,  and  so  continued  all  their  lives  :  the  rest  of 
the  family  remained  with  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Josiah,  my  father,  married  young,  and  carried  his  wife  with 
three  children  into  New  England,  about  1682.  The  conven 
ticles  having  been  forbidden  by  law,  and  frequently  disturbed, 
induced  some  considerable  men  of  his  acquaintance  to  remove 
to  that  country,  and  he  was  prevailed  with  to  accompany 
them  thither,  where  they  expected  to  enjoy  their  mode  of 
religion  with  freedom.  By  the  same  wife  he  had  four  chil 
dren  more  born  there,  and  by  a  second  wife  ten  more,  in  all 
seventeen ;  of  which  I  remember  thirteen  sitting  at  one  time 
at  his  table,  who  all  grew  up  to  be  men  and  women,  and  mar 
ried;  I  was  the  youngest  son,  and  the  youngest  child  but  two, 
and  was  born  in  Boston,  New  England.1  My  mother,  the 

1.  Franklin  was  horn  January  17  (6.  old  styled,  1706,  in  a  house  on  Milk 
Street,  opposite  Old  South  Church,  where  the  Boston  Post  building  now 
stands. 


10  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

second  wife,  was  Abiah  Folger,  daughter  of  Peter  Folger,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  New  England,  of  whom  honorable 
mention  is  made  by  Cotton  Mather,  in  his  church  history  of 
that  country,  entitled  "  Magnalia  Christi  Americana,"  as  "a 
godly,  learned  Englishman"  if  I  remember  the  words 
rightly.  I  have  heard  that  he  wrote  sundry  small  occasional 
pieces,  but  only  one  of  them  was  printed,  which  I  saw  now 
many  years  since.  It  was  written  in  1675,  in  the  home-spun 
verse  of  that  time  and  people,  and  addressed  to  those  then 
concerned  in  the  government  there.  It  was  in  favor  of 
liberty  of  conscience,  and  in  behalf  of  the  Baptists,  Quakers, 
and  other  sectaries  that  had  been  under  persecution,  ascribing 
the  Indian  wars,  and  other  distresses  that  had  befallen  the 
country,  to  that  persecution,  as  so  many  judgments  of  God  to 
punish  so  heinous  an  offense,  and  exhorting  a  repeal  of  those 
uncharitable  laws.  The  whole  appeared  to  me  as  written 
with  a  good  deal  of  decent  plainness  and  manly  freedom. 
The  six  concluding  lines  I  remember,  though  I  have  forgotten 
the  two  first  of  the  stanza;  but  the  purport  of  them  was,  that 
his  censures  proceeded  from  good-will,  and,  therefore,  he 
would  be  known  to  be  the  author. 

"  Because  to  be  a  libeler  (says  he) 

I  hate  it  with  my  heart ; 
From  Sherburne1  town,  where  now  I  dwell, 

My  name  I  do  put  here; 
Without  offense  your  real  friend, 

It  is  Peter  Folgier." 

My  elder  brothers  were  all  put  apprentices  to  different 
trades.  I  was  put  to  the  grammar-school  at  eight  years  of 
age,  my  father  intending  to  devote  me,  as  the  tithe  of  his 
sons,  to  the  service  of  the  Church.  My  early  readiness  in 
learning  to  read  (which  must  have  been  very  early,  as  I  do 
not  remember  when  I  could  not  read),  and  the  opinion  of  all 
his  friends,  that  I  should  certainly  make  a  good  scholar,  en 
couraged  him  iii  this  purpose  of  his.  My  uncle  Benjamin,  too, 

1.  Sherburne.— The  original  name  of  the  town  of  Nantucket.  Folger 
is  still  a  familiar  name  in  Nantucket. 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  11 

approved  of  it,  and  proposed  to  give  me  all  his  short-hand 
volumes  of  sermons,  I  suppose  as  a  stock  to  set  up  with,  if  I 
would  learn  his  character.1  I  continued,  however,  at  the 
grammar-school  not  quite  one  year,  though  in  that  time  I  had 
risen  gradually  from  the  middle  of  the  class  of  that  year  to  be 
the  head  of  it,  and  farther  was  removed  into  the  next  class 
above  it,  in  order  to  go  with  that  into  the  third  at  the  end  of 
the  year.  But  my  father  in  the  mean  time,  from  a  view  of 
the  expense  of  a  college  education,  which  having  so  large  a 
family  he  could  not  well  afford,  and  the  mean  living  many  so 
educated  were  afterwards  able  to  obtain — reasons  that  he 
gave  to  his  friends  in  my  hearing — altered  his  first  intention, 
took  me  from  the  grammar-school,  and  sent  me  to  a  school 
for  writing  and  arithmetic,  kept  by  a  then  famous  man,  Mr. 
George  Brownell,  very  successful  in  his  profession  generally, 
and  that  by  mild,  encouraging  methods.  Under  him  I 
acquired  fair  writing  pretty  soon,  but  I  failed  in  the  arith 
metic,  and  made  no  progress  in  it.  At  ten  years  old  I  was 
taken  home  to  assist  my  father  in  his  business,  which  was 
that  of  a  tallow-chandler  and  soap-boiler ;  a  business  he  was 
not  bred  to,  but  had  assumed  on  his  arrival  in  New  England, 
and  on  finding  his  dyeing  trade  would  not  maintain  his 
family,  being  in  little  request.  Accordingly,  I  was  employed 
in  cutting  wick  for  the  candles,  filling  the  dipping  mold  and 
the  molds  for  cast  candles,  attending  the  shop,  going  of 
errands,  etc. 

I  disliked  the  trade,  and  had  a  strong  inclination  for  the 
sea,  but  my  father  declared  against  it ;  however,  living  near 
the  water,  I  was  much  in  and  about  it,  learned  early  to  swim 
well,  and  to  manage  boats ;  and  when  in  a  boat  or  canoe  with 
other  boys  I  was  commonly  allowed  to  govern,  especially  in 
any  case  of  difficulty  ;  and  upon  other  occasions  I  was  gener 
ally  a  leader  among  the  boys,  and  sometimes  led  them  into 
scrapes,  of  which  I  will  mention  one  instance,  as  it  shows  an 
early  projecting  public  spirit,  though  not  then  justly  conducted. 

There  was  a  salt-marsh  that  bounded  part  of  the  mill-pond, 

1.  Learn  his  character.— That  is,  learn  to  read  his  short-hand. 


12  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

on  the  edge  of  which,  at  high-water,  we  used  to  stand  to  fish 
for  minnows.  By  much  trampling  we  had  made  it  a  mere 
quagmire.  My  proposal  was  to  build  a  wharf  there  fit  for  us 
to  stand  upon,  and  I  showed  my  comrades  a  large  heap  of 
stones,  which  were  intended  for  a  new  house  near  the  marsh, 
and  which  would  very  well  suit  our  purpose.  Accordingly,  in 
the  evening,  when  the  workmen  were  gone,  I  assembled  a 
number  of  my  play-fellows,  and  working  with  them  diligently 
like  so  many  emmets,  sometimes  two  or  three  to  a  stone,  we 
brought  them  all  away  and  built  our  little  wharf.  The  next 
morning  the  workmen  were  surprised  at  missing  the  stones, 
which  were  found  in  our  wharf.  Inquiry  was  made  after  the 
removers  ;  we  were  discovered  and  complained  of ;  several  of 
us  were  corrected  by  our  fathers ;  and,  though  I  pleaded  the 
usefulness  of  the  work,  mine  convinced  me  that  nothing  was 
useful  which  was  not  honest. 

I  think  you  may  like  to  know  something  of  his  person  and 
character.  He  had  an  excellent  constitution  of  body,  was  of 
middle  stature,  but  well  set,  and  very  strong  ;  he  was  ingeni 
ous,  could  draw  prettily,  was  skilled  a  little  in  music,  and  had 
a  clear,  pleasing  voice,  so  that  when  he  played  psalm  tunes  on 
his  violin  and  sung  withal,  as  he  sometimes  did  in  an  evening 
after  the  business  of  the  day  was  over,  it  was  extremely  agree 
able  to  hear.  He  had  a  mechanical  genius,  too,  and  on  occa 
sion  was  very  handy  in  the  use  of  other  tradesmen's  tools  ; 
but  his  great  excellence  lay  in  a  sound  understanding  and 
solid  judgment  in  prudential  matters,  both  in  private  and 
public  affairs.  In  the  latter,  indeed,  he  was  never  employed, 
the  numerous  family  he  had  to  educate  and  the  straitness  of 
his  circumstances  keeping  him  close  to  his  trade  ;  but  I  re 
member  well  his  being  frequently  visited  by  leading  people, 
who  consulted  him  for  his  opinion  in  affairs  of  the  town  or  of 
the  church  he  belonged  to,  and  showed  a  good  deal  of  respect 
for  his  judgment  and  advice  ;  he  was  also  much  consulted  by 
private  persons  about  their  affairs  when  any  difficulty  oc 
curred,  and  frequently  chosen  an  arbitrator  between  contend 
ing  parties.  At  his  table  he  liked  to  have,  as  often  as  he 
could,  some  sensible  friend  or  neighbor  to  converse  with,  and 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  13 

always  took  care  to  start  some  ingenious  or  tisefu1  ^opic  for 
discourse,  which  might  tend  to  improve  the  minds  of  his 
children.  By  this  means  he  turned  our  attention  to  what  was 
good,  just,  and  prudent  in  the  conduct  of  life;  and  little  or  no 
notice  was  ever  taken  of  what  related  to  the  victuals  on  the 
table,  whether  it  was  well  or  ill  dressed,  in  or  out  of  season, 
of  good  or  bad  flavor,  preferable  or  inferior  to  this  or  that 
other  thing  of  the  kind,  so  that  I  was  brought  up  in  such  a 
perfect  inattention  to  those  matters  as  to  be  quite  indifferent 
what  kind  of  food  was  set  before  me,  and  so  unobservant  of  it, 
that  to  this  day  if  I  am  asked  I  can  scarce  tell  a  few  hours 
after  dinner  what  I  dined  upon.  This  has  been  a  convenience 
to  me  in  traveling,  where  my  companions  have  been  some 
times  very  unhappy  for  want  of  a  suitable  gratification  of  their 
more  delicate,  because  better  instructed,  tastes  and  appetites. 
My  mother  had  likewise  an  excellent  constitution  ;  she 
suckled  all  her  ten  children.  I  never  knew  either  my  father 
or  mother  to  have  any  sickness  but  that  of  which  they  died, 
he  at  89,  and  she  at  85  years  of  age.  They  lie  buried  together 
at  Boston,1  where  I  some  years  since  placed  a  marble  over 
their  grave,  with  this  inscription  : 

JOSIAH  FRANKLIN, 

and 

ABIAH  his  wife, 

lie  here  interred. 

They  lived  lovingly  together  in  wedlock 

fifty-five  years.  • 

Without  an  estate,  or  any  gainful  employment, 
By  constant  labor  and  industry, 

with  God's  blessing. 
They  maintained  a  large  family 

comfortably, 

and  brought  up  thirteen  children 
and  seven  grandchildren 

reputably. 

From  this  instance,  reader, 
Be  encouraged  to  diligence  in  thy  calling, 

And  distrust  not  Providence, 

He  was  a  pious  and  prudent  man ; 

She,  a  discreet  and  virtuous  woman. 

Their  j-oungest  son, 
In  filial  regard  to  their  memory. 

Places  this  stone. 

J.  F.  born  1655.  died  1744,  JEte.t  89. 
A.  F.  born  1607,  died  175'J,  85. 

1.  The  grave  is  in  the  Granary  buryiiig-ground.  The  original  stone  having 
crumbled  under  the  ravages  of  time,  a  new  monument  bearing  the  original 
inscription  was  placed  upon  the  grave  In  1827,  by  ritizens  of  Bostoo, 


14  BEKJAMIX  FKANKLLKT. 

By  my  rambling  digressions  I  perceive  myself  to  be  grown 
old.  I  used  to  write  more  methodically.  But  one  does  not 
dress  for  private  company  as  for  a  public  ball.  'Tis  perhaps 
only  negligence. 

To  return  :  I  continued  thus  employed  in  my  father's  busi 
ness  for  two  years,  that  is,  till  I  was  twelve  years  old  ;  and 
my  brother  John,  who  was  bred  to  that  business,  having  left 
my  father,  married,  and  set  up  for  himself  at  Rhode  Island, 
there  was  all  appearance  that  I  was  destined  to  supply  his 
place,  and  become  a  tallow-chandler.  But  my  dislike  to  the 
trade  continuing,  my  father  was  under  apprehensions  that  if 
he  did  not  find  one  for  me  more  agreeable,  I  should  break 
away  and  get  to  sea,  as  his  son  Josiah  had  done,  to  his  great 
vexation.  He  therefore  sometimes  took  me  to  walk  with  him, 
and  see  joiners,  bricklayers,  turners,  braziers,  etc.,  at  their 
work,  that  he  might  observe  my  inclination,  and  endeavor  to 
fix  it  on  some  trade  or  other  on  land.  It  has  ever  since  been 
a  pleasure  to  me  to  see  good  workmen  handle  their  tools  ;  and 
it  has  been  useful  to  me,  having  learned  so  much  by  it  as  to  be 
able  to  do  little  jobs  myself  in  my  house  when  a  workman 
could  not  readily  be  got,  and  to  construct  little  machines  for 
my  experiments,  while  the  intention  of  making  the  experi 
ment  was  fresh  and  warm  in  my  mind.  My  father  at  2ast 
fixed  upon  the  cutler's  trade,  and  my  uncle  Benjamin's  son 
Samuel,  who  was  bred  to  that  business  in  London,  being  about 
that  time  established  in  Boston,  I  was  sent  to  be  with  him 
some  time  on  liking.  But  his  expectations  of  a  fee  with  me 
displeasing  my  father,  I  was  taken  home  again. 

From  a  child  I  was  fond  of  reading,  and  all  the  little  money 
that  came  into  my  hands  was  ever  laid  out  in  books.  Pleased 
with  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  my  first  collection  was  of  John 
Bunyan's  works  in  separate  little  volumes.  I  afterward  sold 
there  to  enable  me  to  buy  R.  Burton's  Historical  Collections ; 
they  were  small  chapmen's  books,  and  cheap,  40  or  50  in  all. 
My  father's  little  library  consisted  chiefly  of  books  in  polemic 
divinity,  most  of  which  I  read,  and  have  since  often  regretted 
that,  at  a  time  when  I  had  such  a  thirst  for  knowledge,  more 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  15 

proper  books  had  not  fallen  in  my  way,  since  it  was  now  re 
solved  I  should  not  be  a  clergyman.  Plutarch's  Lives  there 
was  in  which  I  read  abundantly,  and  I  still  think  that  time 
spent  to  great  advantage.  There  was  also  a  book  of  De  Foe's, 
called  an  "  Essay  on  Projects,"  and  another  of  Dr.  Mather's, 
called  "Essays  to  do  Good,"  which  perhaps  gave  me  a  turn  of 
thinking  that  had  an  influence  on  some  of  the  principal  future 
events  of  my  life. 

This  bookish  inclination  at  length  determined  my  father  to 
make  me  a  printer,  though  he  had  already  one  son  (James)  of 
that  profession.  In  1717  my  brother  James  returned  from 
England  with  a  press  and  letters  to  set  up  his  business  in  Bos 
ton.  I  liked  it  much  better  than  that  of  my  father,  but  still 
had  a  hankering  for  the  sea.  To  prevent  the  apprehended 
effect  of  such  an  inclination,  my  father  was  impatient  to  have 
me  bound  to  my  brother.  I  stood  out  some  time,  but  at  last 
was  persuaded,  and  signed  the  indentures  when  I  was  yet  but 
twelve  years  old.  I  was  to  serve  as  an  apprentice  till  I  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  only  I  was  to  be  allowed  journeyman's 
wages  during  the  last  year.  In  a  little  time  I  made  great  pro 
ficiency  in  the  business,  and  became  a  useful  hand  to  my 
brother.  I  now  had  access  to  better  books.  An  acquaintance 
with  the  apprentices  of  booksellers  enabled  me  sometimes  to 
borrow  a  small  one,  which  I  was  careful  to  return  soon  and 
clean.  Often  I  sat  up  in  my  room  reading  the  greatest  part 
of  the  night,  when  the  book  was  borrowed  in  the  evening  and 
to  be  returned  early  in  the  morning,  lest  it  should  be  missed 
or  wanted. 

And  after  some  time  an  ingenious  tradesman,  Mr.  Matthew 
Adams,  who  had  a  pretty  collection  of  books,  and  who  fre 
quented  our  printing-house,  took  notice  of  me,  invited  me  to  his 
library,  and  very  kindly  lent  me  such  books  as  I  chose  to  read. 
I  now  took  a  fancy  to  poetry,  and  made  some  little  pieces; 
my  brother,  thinking  it  might  turn  to  account,1  encouraged 

1.  The  street-ballad  was  a  popular,  and  almost  the  only  means  of  circulat 
ing  sensational  news,  and  therefore  a  source  of  much  profit  to  the  printers. 
Every  public  event  of  importance  was  sure  to  be  described  in  doggerel 
rhyme  by  some  ballad-monger. 


16  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN". 

me,  and  put  me  on  composing  occasional  ballads.  One  was 
called  "  The  Lighthouse  Tragedy,"  and  contained  an  account  of 
the  drowning  of  Captain  "Worthilake,  with  his  two  daughters ; 
the  other  was  a  sailor's  song,  on  the  taking  of  Teach  (or  Black- 
beard)  the  pirate.1  They  were  wretched  stuff,  in  the  Grub- 
street-ballad  style;  and  when  they  were  printed  he  sent  me 
about  the  town  to  sell  them.  The  first  sold  wonderfully,  the 
event  being  recent,  having  made  a  great  noise.  This  flattered 
my  vanity;  but  my  father  discouraged  me  by  ridiculing  my 
performances,  and  telling  me  verse-makers  were  generally 
beggars.  So  I  escaped  being  a  poet,  most  probably  a  very 
bad  one;  but  as  prose  writing  has  been  of  great  use  to  me  in 
the  course  of  my  life,  and  was  a  principal  means  of  my  ad 
vancement,  I  shall  tell  you  how,  in  such  a  situation,  I  acquired 
what  little  ability  I  have  in  that  way. 

There  was  another  bookish  lad  in  the  town,  John  Collins  by 
name,  with  whom  I  was  intimately  acquainted.  We  sometimes 
disputed,  and  very  fond  we  were  of  argument,  and  very  desir 
ous  of  confuting  one  another,  which  disputatious  turn,  by  the 
way,  is  apt  to  become  a  very  bad  habit,  making  people  often 
extremely  disagreeable  in  company  by  the  contradiction  that 
is  necessary  to  bring  it  into  practice;  and  thence,  besides  sour 
ing  and  spoiling  the  conversation,  is  productive  of  disgusts 
and  perhaps  enmities  where  you  may  have  occasion  for  f  i-iend- 
ship.  I  had  caught  it  by  reading  my  father's  books  of  dispute 
about  religion.  Persons  of  good  sense,  I  have  since  observed, 
seldom  fall  into  it,  except  lawyers,  university  men,  and  men 
of  all  sorts  that  have  been  bred  at  Edinburgh. 

A  question  was  once,  somehow  or  other,  started  between 
Collins  and  me,  of  the  propriety  of  educating  the  female  sex 
in  learning,  and  their  abilities  for  study.  He  was  of  opinion 


1.  Worthilake  was  the  keeper  of  the  Boston  Light.  John  Teach  was  a 
pirate  almost  as  famous  as  Captain  Kidd.  He  was  captured  in  Pamlico 
Sound  after  a  desperate  fight,  falling  upon  the  deck  of  his  own  ship  covered 
with  wounds.  "  He  was  a  boy's  ideal  of  a  pirate  chief.  His  brow  was  low; 
his  eyes  were  small;  his  huge,  shaggy  beard,  black  as  a  coal,  hung  far  down 
upon  his  breast.  Over  his  shoulders  were  three  braces  of  pistols;  in  battle, 
lierhted  matches  stuck  out  from  under  his  hat  and  protruded  from  behind 
his  ears.  In  his  fits  of  rage  he  became  a  demon." 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  17 

that  it  was  improper,  and  that  they  were  naturally  unequal  to 
it.  I  took  the  contrary  side,  perhaps  a  little  for  dispute's  sake. 
He  was  naturally  more  eloquent,  bad  a  ready  plenty  of  words: 
and  sometimes,  as  I  thought,  bore  me  down  more  by  his  flu 
ency  than  by  the  strength  of  his  reasons.  As  we  parted  with 
out  settling  the  point,  and  were  not  to  see  one  another  again 
for  some  time,  I  sat  down  to  put  my  arguments  in  writ  ing, 
which  I  copied  fair  and  sent  to  him.  He  answered,  and  I 
replied.  Three  or  four  letters  of  a  side  had  passed,  when  my 
father  happened  to  find  my  papers  and  read  them.  Without 
entering  into  the  discussion,  he  took  occasion  to  talk  to  me 
about  the  manner  of  my  writing;  observed  that,  though  I  had 
the  advantage  of  my  antagonist  in  correct  spelling  and  point 
ing  (which  I  owed  to  the  printing-house),  I  fell  far  short  in 
elegance  of  expression,  in  method  and  in  perspicuity,  of  which 
lie  convinced  me  by  several  instances.  I  saw  the  justice  of 
liis  remarks,  and  thence  grew  more  attentive  to  the  manner  in 
•writing,  and  determined  to  endeavor  at  improvement. 

About  this  time  I  met  with  an  odd  volume  of  the  Spectator.1 
It  was  the  third.  I  had  never  before  seen  any  of  them.  I 
bought  it,  read  it  over  and  over,  and  was  much  delighted  with 
it.  I  thought  the  writing  excellent,  and  wished,  if  possible, 
to  imitate  it.  With  this  view  I  took  some  of  the  papers,  and, 
making  short  hints  of  the  sentiment  in  each  sentence,  laid 
them  by  a  few  days,  and  then,  without  looking  at  the  book, 
tried  to  complete  the  papers  again,  by  expressing  each  hinted 
sentiment  at  length,  and  as  fully  as  it  had  been  expressed  he- 
fore,  in  any  suitable  words  that  should  come  to  hand.  Then 
I  compared  my  Spectator  with  the  original,  discovered  some  of 
my  faults,  and  corrected  them.  But  I  found  I  wanted  a  stock 
of  words,  or  a  readiness  in  recollecting  and  using  them,  which 
I  thought  I  should  have  acquired  before  that  time  if  I  had 
gone  on  making  verses;  since  the  continual  occasion  for  words 

of  the  same  import,  but  of  different  length,  to  suit  the  measure, 

* — •*• 
~ 

1  This  "  odd  volume  "  was  the  third  in  the  seven-volume  edition  into 
which  the  Spectator  papers  of  Addison  and  Steele  were  gathered  after  their 
first  appearance  in  periodical  form. 


18  BE^JAMLNT 

or  of  different  sound  for  the  rhyme,  would  have  laid  me 
under  a  constant  necessity  of  searching  for  variety,  and  also 
have  tended  to  fix  that  variety  in  my  mind,  and  make  me 
master  of  it.  Therefore  I  took  some  of  the  tales  and  turned 
them  into  verse;  and,  after  a  time,  when  I  had  pretty  well  for 
gotten  the  prose,  turned  them  back  again.  I  also  sometimes 
jumbled  my  collections  of  hints  into  confusion,  and  after 
some  weeks  endeavored  to  reduce  them  into  the  best  order, 
before  I  began  to  form  the  full  sentences  and  complete  the 
paper.  This  was  to  teach  me  method  in  the  arrangement 
of  thoughts.  By  comparing  my  work  afterwards  with  the 
original,  I  discovered  many  faults  and  amended  them;  but 
I  sometimes  had  the  pleasure  of  fancying  that,  in  certain 
particulars  of  small  import,  I  had  been  lucky  enough  to  im 
prove  the  method  or  the  language,  and  this  encouraged  me  to 
think  I  might  possibly  in  time  come  to  be  a  tolerable  English 
writer,  of  which  I  was  extremely  ambitious.  My  time  for 
these  exercises  and  for  reading  was  at  night,  after  work  or 
before  it  began  in  the  morning,  or  on  Sundays,  when  I  con 
trived  to  be  in  the  printing-house  alone,  evading  as  much  as 
I  could  the  common  attendance  on  public  worship  which  my 
father  used  to  exact  of  me  when  I  was  under  his  care,  and 
which  indeed  I  still  thought  a  duty,  though  I  could  not,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  afford  time  to  practice  it. 

When  about  16  years  of  age  I  happened  to  meet  with  a  book, 
written  by  one  Tryon,  recommending  a  vegetable  diet.  I 
determined  to  go  into  it.  My  brother,  being  yet  unmarried, 
did  not  keep  house,  but  boarded  himself  and  his  apprentices 
in  another  family.  My  refusing  to  eat  flesh  occasioned  an  in- 
conveniency,  and  I  was  frequently  chid  for  my  singularity.  I 
made  myself  acquainted  with  Tryon's  manner  of  preparing 
some  of  his  dishes,  such  as  boiling  potatoes  or  rice,  making 
hasty-pudding,  and  a  few  others,  and  then  proposed  to  my 
brother,  that  if  he  would  give  me,  weekly,  half  the  money  he 
paid  for  my  board,  I  would  board  myself.  He  instantly 
agreed  to  it,  and  I  presently  found  that  I  could  save  half 
what  he  paid  me.  This  was  an  additional  fund  for  buying 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  19 

books.  But  I  had  another  advantage  in  it.  My  brother  and 
the  rest  going  from  the  printing-house  to  their  meals,  I  re 
mained  there  alone,  and,  dispatching  presently  my  light  repast, 
which  often  was  no  more  than  a  biscuit  or  a  slice  of  bread,  a 
handful  of  raisins  or  a  tart  from  the  pastry-cook's,  and  a  glass 
of  water,  had  the  rest  of  the  time  till  their  return  for  study, 
in  which  I  made  the  greater  progress,  from  that  greater  clear 
ness  of  head  and  quicker  apprehension  which  usually  attend 
temperance  in  eating  and  drinking. 

And  now  it  was  that,  being  on  some  occasion  made  ashamed 
of  my  ignorance  in  figures,  which  I  had  twice  failed  in  learn 
ing  when  at  school,  I  took  Cocker's  book  of  Arithmetic,  and 
went  through  the  whole  by  myself  with  great  ease.  I  also 
read  Seller's  and  Shermy's  books  of  Navigation,  and  became 
acquainted  with  the  little  geometry  they  contain;  but  never 
proceeded  far  in  that  science.  And  I  read  about  this  time 
Locke  u  On  Human  Understanding,"  and  the  "Art  of  Think 
ing,"  by  Messrs,  du  Port  Royal.1 

While  I  was  intent  on  improving  my  language,  I  met  with 
an  English  grammar  ^(1  think  it  was  Greenwood's),  at  the  end 
of  which  there  were  two  little  sketches  of  the  arts  of  rhetoric 
and  logic,  the  latter  finishing  with  a  specimen  of  a  dispute  in 
the  Socratic  method;  and  soon  after  I  procured  Xenophon's 
"  Memorable  Things  of  Socrates,"  wherein  there  are  many  in 
stances  of  the  same  method.  I  was  charmed  with  it,  adopted 
it,  dropped  my  abrupt  contradiction  and  positive  argumenta 
tion,  and  put  on  the  humble  inquirer  and  doubter.  And  being 
then,  from  reading  Shaftesbury  and  Collins,2  become  a  real 
doubter  in  many  points  of  our  religious  doctrine,  I  found  this 
method  safest  for  myself  and  very  embarrassing  to  those 
against  whom  I  used  it;  therefore  I  took  a  delight  in  it,  prac 
ticed  it  continually,  and  grew  very  artful  and  expert  in  draw 
ing  people,  even  of  superior  knowledge,  into  concessions,  the 

1.  Members  of  the  Port  Royal   School   of  Philosophy,  who  studied  and 
wrote  at  the  Abbey  of  Port  Royal,  near  Versailles,  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

2.  Earl   of  Shaftesbury  and  Anthony  Collins,  skeptical    writers   whose 
works,  written  in  a  brilliant  and  persuasive  style,  were  at  that  time  very 
popular  and  influential. 


20  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

consequences  of  which  they  did  not  foresee,  entangling  them  in 
difficulties  out  of  which  they  could  not  extricate  themselves, 
and  so  obtaining  victories  that  neither  myself  nor  my  cause 
always  deserved.  I  continued  this  method  some  few  years, 
but  gradually  left  it,  retaining  only  the  habit  of  expressing 
myself  in  terms  of  modest  diffidence;  never  using,  when  I  ad 
vanced  anything  that  may  possibly  be  disputed,  the  words 
certainly,  undoubtedly,  or  any  others  that  give  the  air  of  posi- 
tiveness  to  an  opinion;  but  rather  say,  I  conceive  or  appre 
hend  a  thing  to  be  so  and  so;  it  appears  to  me,  or  /  should 
think  it  so  or  so,  for  such  and  such  reasons;  or  /  imagine  it 
to  be  so  ;  or  it  is  so,  if  I  am  not  mistaken.  This  habit,  I  be 
lieve,  has  been  of  great  advantage  to  me  when  I  have  had 
occasion  to  inculcate  my  opinions,  and  persuade  men  into 
measures  that  I  have  been  from  time  to  time  engaged  in  pro 
moting;  and,  as  the  chief  ends  of  conversation  are  to  inform 
or  to  be  informed,  to  please,  or  to  persuade,  I  wish  well- 
meaning,  sensible  men  would  not  lessen  their  power  of  doing 
good  by  a  positive,  assuming  manner,  that  seldom  fails  to 
disgust,  tends  to  create  opposition,  and  to  defeat  every  one  of 
those  purposes  for  which  speech  was  given  to  us,  to  wit,  giv 
ing  or  receiving  information  or  pleasure.1  For,  if  you  wrould 
inform,  a  positive  and  dogmatical  manner  in  advancing  your 
sentiments  may  provoke  contradiction  and  prevent  a  candid 
attention.  If  you  wish  information  and  improvement  from 
the  knowledge  of  others,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  express 
yourself  as  firmly  fixed  in  your  present  opinions,  modest,  sen 
sible  men,  who  do  not  love  disputation,  will  probably  leave 
you  undisturbed  in  the  possession  of  your  error.  And  by 
such  a  manner  you  can  seldom  hope  to  recommend  yourself 


1.  The  truth  of  this  passage  is  illustrated  by  the  whole  of  Franklin's 
remarkable  diplomatic  career.  In  this  respect  he  was  a  striking  contrast 
to  the  " positive,  assuming"  John  Adams,  whose  honest  indiscretions  of 
speech  often  caused  Franklin  much  trouble,  while  associated  with  him  in 
France.  Adams  wrote  home  complainingly  of  his  colleague:  "  He  loves  his 
ease,  hates  to  offend,  and  seldom  gives  any  opinion  till  obliged  to  do  it.  ... 
Although  he  has  as  determined  a  soul  as  any  man,  yet  it  is  his  constant 
policy  never  to  say  'yes  '  or  '  no  '  decidedly,  but  when  he  cannot  avoid  it," 


BEXJAMIX   FRANKLIN".  21 

in  pleasing  your  hearers,  or  to  persuade  those  whose  concur 
rence  you  desire.  Pope  says,  judiciously: 

'*  Men  should  be  taught  as  if  you  taught  them  not, 
And  things  unknown  proposed  as  things  forgot;  " 

farther  recommending  to  us 

"  To  speak,  tho'  sure,  with  seeming  diffidence." 

And  he  might  have  coupled  with  this  line  that  which  he  has 
coupled  with  another,  I  think,  less  properly: 

"  For  want  of  modesty  is  want  of  sense." 

If  you  ask,  Why  less  properly  ?    I  must  repeat  the  lines: 

"  Immodest  words  admit  of  no  defense, 
For  want  of  modesty  is  want  of  sense." 

Now,  is  not  want  of  sense  (where  a  man  is  so  unfortunate  as 
to  want  it)  some  apology  for  his  icant  of  modesty  ?  and  would 
not  the  lines  stand  more  justly  thus  ? 

"  Immodest  words  admit  but  this  defense, 
That  want  of  modesty  is  want  of  sense." 

This,  however,  I  should  submit  to  better  judgments. 

My  brother  had,  in  1720  or  1721,  begun  to  print  a  news 
paper.  It  was  the  second  that  appeared  in  America,  and  was 
called  the  New  England  Courant.  The  only  one  before  it 
was  the  Boston  News  Letter.1  I  remember  his  being  dis 
suaded  by  some  of  his  friends  from  the  undertaking,  as  not 
likely  to  succeed,  one  newspaper  being,  in  their  judgment, 
enough  for  America.  At  this  time  (1771)  there  are  not  less 
than  five-and-twenty.  He  went  on,  however,  with  the  under 
taking,  and  after  having  worked  in  composing  the  types  and 
printing  off  the  sheets,  I  was  employed  to  carry  the  papers 
through  the  streets  to  the  customers. 

He  had  some  ingenious  men  among  his  friends,  who  amused 

3.  Franklin's  memory  misled  him  here.  The  Courant  was  the  fourth 
newspaper  that  appeared  in  America.  The  Boston  Xt'irs  Letter  appeared 
in  1704:  the  Boston  Gazette,  in  1719;  the  American  Mercury  at  Philadelphia, 
and  the  Courant,  in  1721.  In  1775  there  were  thirty  seven  newspapers  in 
circulation;  at  the  end  of  the  Revolution  there  were  forty-three. 


22  BENJAMIN"   FRANKLIN. 

themselves  by  writing  little  pieces  for  this  paper,  which  gained 
it  credit  and  made  it  more  in  demand,  and  these  gentlemen 
often  visited  us.  Hearing  their  conversations  and  their  ac 
counts  of  the  approbation  their  papers  were  received  with,  I 
was  excited  to  try  my  hand  among  them;  but,  being  still  a 
boy,  and  suspecting  that  my  brother  would  object  to  printing 
anything  of  mine  in  his  paper  if  he  knew  it  to  be  mine,  I 
contrived  to  disguise  my  hand,  and,  writing  an  anonymous 
paper,  I  put  it  in  at  night  under  the  door  of  the  printing- 
house.  It  was  found  in  the  morning,  and  communicated  to 
his  writing  friends  when  they  called  in  as  usual.  They  read 
it,  commented  on  it  in  my  hearing,  and  I  had  the  exquisite 
pleasure  of  finding  it  met  with  their  approbation,  and  that,  in 
their  different  guesses  at  the  author,  none  were  named  but 
men  of  some  character  among  us  for  learning  and  ingenuity. 
I  suppose  now  that  I  was  rather  lucky  in  my  judges,  and  that 
perhaps  they  were  not  really  so  very  good  ones  as  I  then  es 
teemed  them. 

Encouraged,  however,  by  this,  I  wrote  and  conveyed  in  the 
same  way  to  the  press  several  more  papers,  which  were  equally 
approved  ;  and  I  kept  my  secret  till  my  small  fund  of  sense 
for  such  performances  was  pretty  well  exhausted,  and  then  I 
discovered  it,  when  I  began  to  be  considered  a  little  more  by 
my  brother's  acquaintance,  and  in  a  manner  that  did  not 
quite  please  him,  as  he  thought,  probably  with  reason,  that  it 
tended  to  make  me  too  vain.  And  perhaps  this  might  be  one 
occasion  of  the  differences  that  we  began  to  have  about  this 
time.  Though  a  brother,  he  considered  himself  as  my  master, 
and  me  as  his  apprentice,  and  accordingly  expected  the  same 
services  from  me  as  he  would  from  another,  while  I  thought 
he  demeaned  me  too  much  in  some  he  required  of  me,  who 
from  a  brother  expected  more  indulgence.  Our  disputes  were 
often  brought  before  our  father,  and  I  fancy  I  was  either 
generally  in  the  right,  or  else  a  better  pleader,  because  the 
judgment  was  generally  in  my  favor.  But  my  brother  was 
passionate,  and  had  often  beaten  me,  which  I  took  extremely 
amiss;  and,  thinking  my  apprenticeship  very  tedious,  I  was 


BENJAMIK   FRANKLIX.  23 

continually  wishing  for  some  opportunity  of  shortening  it, 
which  at  length  offered  in  a  manner  unexpected.1 

One  of  the  pieces  in  our  newspaper  on  some  political  point, 
which  I  have  now  forgotten,  gave  offense  to  the  Assembly. 
He  was  taken  up,  censured,  and  imprisoned  for  a  month,  by 
the  Speaker's  warrant,  I  suppose,  because  he  would  not  dis 
cover  his  author.  I  too  was  taken  up  and  examined  before 
the  council ;  but,  though  I  did  not  give  them  any  satisfaction, 
they  contented  themselves  with  admonishing  me,  and  dis 
missed  me,  considering  me,  perhaps,  as  an  apprentice,  who 
was  bound  to  keep  his  master's  secrets. 

fi\  During  my  brother's  confinement,  which  I  resented  a  good 
deal,  notwithstanding  our  private  differences,  I  had  the  man 
agement  of  the  paper ;  and  I  made  bold  to  give  our  rulers 
some  rubs  in  it,  which  my  brother  took  very  kindly,  while 
others  began  to  consider  me  in  an  unfavorable  light,  as  a 
young  genius  that  had  a  turn  for  libeling  and  satire.  My 
brother's  discharge  was  accompanied  with  an  order  of  the 
House  (a  very  odd  one),  that  "James  Franklin  should  no 
longer  print  the  paper  called  the  New  England  Courant" 

There  was  a  consultation  held  in  our  printing-house  among 
his  friends,  what  he  should  do  in  this  case.  Some  proposed 
to  evade  the  order  by  changing  the  name  of  the  paper  ;  but 
my  brother  seeing  inconveniences  in  that,  it  was  finally  con 
cluded  on  as  a  better  way,  to  let  it  be  printed  for  the  future 
under  the  name  of  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  ;  and  to  avoid  the  cen 
sure  of  the  Assembly,  that  might  fall  on  him  as  still  printing 
it  by  his  apprentice,  the  contrivance  was  that  my  old  indenture 
should  be  returned  to  me,  with  a  full  discharge  on  the  back 
of  it,  to  be  shown  on  occasion,  but  to  secure  to  him  the  bene 
fit  of  my  service  I  was  to  sign  new  indentures  for  the  re 
mainder  of  the  term,  which  were  to  be  kept  private.  A  very 
flimsy  scheme  it  was  ;  however,  it  was  immediately  executed, 
and  the  paper  went  on  accordingly,  under  my  name  for 
several  months. 

1  Franklin  here  adds  in  a  note  :  *'  I  fancy  his  harsh  and  tyrannical  treat 
ment  of  me  might  be  a  means  of  impressing  me  with  that  aversion  to  arbi 
trary  power  that  has  stuck  to  me  through  my  whole  life." 


24  BENJAMIN"   FRANKLIN. 

At  length,  a  fresh  difference  arising  between  my  brother 
and  me,  I  took  upon  me  to  assert  my  freedom,  presuming  that 
he  would  not  venture  to  produce  the  new  indentures.  It  was 
not  fair  in  me  to  take  this  advantage,  and  this  I  therefore 
reckon  one  of  the  first  errata  of  my  life  ;  but  the  unfairness 
of  it  weighed  little  with  me,  when  under  the  impressions  of 
resentment  for  the  blows  his  passion  too  often  urged  him  to 
bestow  upon  me,  though  he  was  otherwise  not  an  ill-natured 
man :  perhaps  I  was  too  saucy  and  provoking. 

When  he  found  I  would  leave  him,  he  took  care  to  prevent  my 
getting  employment  in  any  other  printing-house  of  the  town, 
by  going  round  and  speaking  to  every  master,  who  accord- 
ingly  refused  to  give  me  work.  I  then  thought  of  going  to 
New  York,  as  the  nearest  place  where  there  was  a  printer  ; 
and  I  was  rather  inclined  to  leave  Boston  when  I  reflected 
that  I  had  already  made  myself  a  little  obnoxious  to  the  gov 
erning  party,  and,  from  the  arbitrary  proceedings  of  the 
Assembly  in  my  brother's  case,  it  was  likely  I  might,  if  I 
stayed,  soon  bring  myself  into  scrapes;  and  farther,  that  my 
indiscreet  disputations  about  religion  began  to  make  me 
pointed  at  with  horror  by  good  people  as  an  infidel  or  atheist. 
I  determined  on  the  point,  but  my  father  now  siding  with  my 
brother,  I  was  sensible  that,  if  I  attempted  to  go  openly,  means 
would  be  used  to  prevent  me.  My  friend  Collins,  therefore,, 
undertook  to  manage  a  little  forme.  He  agreed  with  the  cap 
tain  of  a  New  York  sloop  for  my  passage,  under  the  notion  of 
my  being  a  young  acquaintance  of  his,  that  had  got  [into 
trouble],  and  therefore  I  could  not  appear  or  come  away  pub 
licly.  So  I  sold  some  of  my  books  to  raise  a  little  money,  was 
taken  on  board  privately,  and  as  we  had  a  fair  wind,  in  three 
days  I  found  myself  in  New  York,  near  300  miles  from  home, 
a  boy  of  but  17,  without  the  least  recommendation  to,  or 
knowledge  of  any  person  in  the  place,  and  with  very  little 
money  in  my  pocket. 

My  inclinations  for  the  sea  were  by  this  time  worn  out,  or  I 
might  now  have  gratified  them.  But,  having  a  trade,  and 
supposing  myself  a  pretty  good  workman,  I  offered  my  service 


BEX  J  A  MIX   FRANKLIN.  25 

to  the  printer  in  the  place,  old  Mr.  William  Bradford,  who  had 
been  the  first  printer  in  Pennsylvania,  but  removed  from 
thence  upon  the  quarrel  of  George  Keith.  He  could  give  me 
no  employment,  having  little  to  do,  and  help  enough  already; 
but  says  he,  "  My  son  at  Philadelphia  has  lately  lost  his  prin 
cipal  hand,  Aquila  Rose,  by  death  ;  if  you  go  thither,  I  be 
lieve  he  may  employ  you."  Philadelphia  was  a  hundred  miles 
further  ;  I  set  out,  however,  in  a  boat  for  Amboy,  leaving  my 
chest  and  things  to  follow  me  round  by  sea. 

In  crossing  the  bay,  we  met  with  a  squall  that  tore  our 
rotten  sails  to  pieces,  prevented  our  getting  into  the  Kill,  and 
drove  us  upon  Long  Island.  In  our  way  a  drunken  Dutch 
man,  who  was  a  passenger  too,  fell  overboard ;  when  he  was 
sinking,  I  reached  through  the  water  to  his  shock  pate  and 
drew  him  up,  so  that  we  got  him  in  again.  His  ducking 
sobered  him  a  little,  and  he  went  to  sleep,  taking  first  out  of 
his  pocket  a  book,  which  he  desired  I  would  dry  for  him.  It 
proved  to  be  my  old  favorite  author,  Bunyan's  "Pilgrim's 
Progress,1'  in  Dutch,  finely  printed  on  good  paper,  with  copper 
cuts,  a  dress  better  than  I  had  ever  seen  it  wear  in  its  own 
language.  I  have  since  found  that  it  has  been  translated  into 
most  of  the  languages  of  Europe,  and  suppose  it  has  been 
more  generally  read  than  any  other  book,  except  perhaps  the 
Bible.  Honest  John  was  the  first  that  I  know  of  who  mixed 
narration  and  dialogue;  a  method  of  writing  very  engaging  to 
the  reader,  who  in  the  most  interesting  parts  finds  himself,  as 
it  were,  brought  into  the  company  and  present  at  the  dis 
course.  De  Foe  in  his  "  Crusoe,"  his  "Moll  Flanders,"  "  Re 
ligious  Courtship,"  "Family  Instructor,"  and  other  pieces, 
has  imitated  it  with  success ;  and  Richardson  has  done  the 
same  in  his  "Pamela,"  etc. 

When  we  drew  near  the  island,  we  found  it  was  at  a  place 
where  there  could  be  no  landing,  there  being  a  great  surf  on 
the  stony  beach.  So  we  dropped  anchor,  and  swung  round 
towards  the  shore.  Some  people  came  down  to  the  water 
edge  and  halloed  to  us,  as  we  did  to  them  ;  but  the  wind  was 
so  high,  and  the  surf  so  loud,  that  we  could  not  hear  so  as  to 


26  BENJAMIK 

y- 

understand  each  other. '  There  were  canoes  on  the  shore,  and 
we  made  signs,  and  halloed  that  they  should  fetch  us;  but 
they  either  did  not  understand  us,  or  thought  it  impractica 
ble,  so  they  went  away,  and  night  coming  on,  we  had  no 
remedy  but  to  wait  till  the  wind  should  abate;  and,  in  the 
meantime,  the  boatman  and  I  concluded  to  sleep,  if  we  could  ; 
and  so  crowded  into  the  scuttle,  with  the  Dutchman,  who  was 
still  wet,  and  the  spray  beating  over  the  head  of  our  boat, 
leaked  through  to  us,  so  that  we  were  soon  almost  as  wet  as 
he.  In  this  manner  we  lay  all  night,  with  very  little  rest ; 
but  the  wind  abating  the  next  day,  we  made  a  shift  to  reach 
Amboy  before  night,  having  been  thirty  hours  on  the  water, 
without  victuals,  or  any  drink  but  a  bottle  of  filthy  rum,  the 
water  we  sailed  on  being  salt. 

In  the  evening  I  found  myself  very  feverish,  and  went  in  to 
bed ;  but,  having  read  somewhere  that  cold  water  drank 
plentifully  was  good  for  a  fever,  I  followed  the  prescription, 
sweat  plentifully  most  of  the  night,  my  fever  left  me,  and  in 
the  morning,  crossing  the  ferry,  I  proceeded  on  my  journey 
on  foot,  having  fifty  miles  to  Burlington,  where  I  was  told  I 
should  find  boats  that  would  carry  me  the  rest  of  the  way  to 
Philadelphia. 

It  rained  very  hard  all  the  day;  I  was  thoroughly  soaked, 
and  by  noon  a  good  deal  tired;  so  I  stopped  at  a  poor  inn, 
where  I  stayed  all  night,  beginning  now  to  wish  that  I  had 
never  left  home.  I  cut  so  miserable  a  figure,  too,  that  I 
found,  by  the  questions  asked  me,  I  was  suspected  to  be  some 
runaway  servant,  and  in  danger  of  being  taken  up  on  that 
suspicion.  However,  I  proceeded  the  next  day,  and  got  in 
the  evening  to  an  inn,  within  eight  or  ten  miles  of  Burlington, 
kept  by  one  Dr.  Brown.  He  entered  into  conversation  with 
me  while  I  took  some  refreshment,  and,  finding  I  had  read  a 
little  became  very  sociable  and  friendly.  Our  acquaintance 
continued  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  had  been,  I  imagine,  an 
itinerant  doctor,  for  there  was  no  town  in  England,  or 
country  in  Europe,  of  which  he  could  not  give  a  very  particu 
lar  account.  He  had  some  letters,  and  was  ingenious  but 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  2? 

much  of  an  unbeliever,  and  wickedly  undertook,  some  years 
after,  to  travesty  the  Bible  in  doggerel  verse,  as  Cotton  had 
done  Virgil.  By  this  means  he  set  many  of  the  tacts  in  a 
very  ridiculous  light,  and  might  have  hurt  weak  minds  if  his 
work  had  been  published;  but  it  never  was. 

At  his  house  I  lay  that  night,  and  the  next  morning  reached 
Burlington,  but  had  the  mortification  to  find  that  the  regular 
boats  were  gone  a  little  before  my  coming,  and  no  other 
expected  to  go  before  Tuesday,  this  being  Saturday;  where 
fore  I  returned  to  an  old  woman  in  the  town,  of  whom  I  had 
bought  gingerbread  to  eat  on  the  water,  and  asked  her  advice. 
She  invited  me  to  lodge  at  her  house  till  a  passage  by  water 
should  offer;  and  being  tired  with  my  foot  traveling,  I 
accepted  the  invitation.  She,  understanding  I  was  a  printer, 
would  have  had  me  stay  at  that  town  and  follow  my  business, 
being  ignorant  of  the  stock  necessary  to  begin  with.  She 
was  very  hospitable,  gave  me  a  dinner  of  ox-cheek  with  great 
good-will,  accepting  only  of  a  pot  of  ale  in  return;  and  I 
thought  myself  fixed  till  Tuesday  should  come.  However, 
walking  in  the  evening  by  the  side  of  the  river,  a  boat  came 
by,  which  I  found  was  going  towards  Philadelphia,  with 
several  people  in  her.  They  took  me  in,  and,  as  there  was  no 
wind,  we  rowed  all  the  way;  and  about  midnight,  not  having 
yet  seen  the  city,  some  of  the  company  were  confident  we 
must  have  passed  it,  and  would  row  no  farther;  the  others 
knew  not  where  we  were;  so  we  put  toward  the  shore,  got 
into  a  creek,  landed  Hear  an  old  fence,  with  the  rails  of  which 
we  made  a  fire,  the  night  being  cold,  in  October,  and  there 
we  remained  till  daylight.  Then  one  of  the  company  knew 
the  place  to  be  Cooper's  Creek,  a  little  above  Philadelphia, 
which  we  saw  as  soon  as  we  got  out  of  the  creek,  and  arrived 
there  about  eight  or  nine  o'clock  on  the  Sunday  morning,  and 
landed  at  the  Market-street  wharf.1 

I.  There  were  at  this  time  but  two  roads  between  New  York  and  Phila 
delphia,  one  of  which  was  little  more  than  a  bridle-path;  the  other,  which 
Franklin  followed  from  Amboy  to  Burlington,  led  for  miles  through  an  un 
inhabited  country.  The  almanacs  of  the  time,  which  served  as  guide-books, 
mention  but  four  places  where  the  traveler  could  get  rest  and  refreshment, 
one  of  which  was  Dr.  Brown's. 


28  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

1  have  been  the  more  particular  in  this  description  of  my 
journey,  and  shall  be  so  of  my  first  entry  into  that  city,  that 
you  may  in  your  mind  compare  such  unlikely  beginnings  with 
the  figure  I  have  since  made  there.  I  was  in  my  working 
dress,  my  best  clothes  being  to  come  round  by  sea.  I  was 
dirty  from  my  journey;  my  pockets  were  stuffed  out  with 
shirts  and  stockings,  and  I  knew  no  soul  nor  where  to  look 
for  lodging.  1  was  fatigued  with  traveling,  rowing,  and 
want  of  rest;  I  was  very  hungry;  and  my  whole  stock  of  cash 
consisted  of  a  Dutch  dollar  and  about  a  shilling  in  copper. 
The  latter  I  gave  the  people  of  the  boat  for  my  passage,  who 
at  first  refused  it,  on  account  of  my  rowing;  but  I  insisted  on 
their  taking  it.  A  man  being  sometimes  more  generous  when 
he  has  but  a  little  money  than  when  he  has  plenty,  perhaps 
through  fear  of  being  thought  to  have  but  little. 

Then  I  walked  up  the  street,  gazing  about  till  near  the 
market-house  I  met  a  boy  with  bread.  I  had  made  many  a 
meal  on  bread,  and,  inquiring  where  he  got  it,  I  went 
immediately  to  the  baker's  he  directed  me  to,  in  Second 
Street,  and  asked  for  biscuit,  intending  such  as  we  had  in 
Boston;  but  they,  it  seems,  were  not  made  in  Philadelphia. 
Then  I  asked  for  a  three-penny  loaf,  and  was  told  they  had 
none  such.  So  not  considering  or  knowing  the  difference  of 
money  and  the  greater  cheapness,  nor  the  names  of  his  bread, 
I  bade  him  give  me  three-penny  worth  of  any  sort.  He  gave 
me,  accordingly,  three  great  puffy  rolls.  I  was  surprised  at 
the  quantity,  but  took  it,  and,  having  no  room  in  my  pockets, 
walked  off  with  a  roll  under  each  arm,  and  eating  the  other. 
Thus  I  went  up  Market  Street  as  far  as  Fourth  Street,  passing 
by  the  door  of  Mr.  Read,  my  future  wife's  father ;  when  she, 
standing  at  the  door,  saw  me,  and  thought  I  made,  as  I  cer 
tainly  did,  a  most  awkward,  ridiculous  appearance.  Then  I 
turned  and  went  down  Chestnut  Street  and  part  of  Walnut 
Street,  eating  my  roll  all  the  way,  and,  coming  round,  found 
myself  again  at  Market-street  wharf,  near  the  boat  I  came  in, 
to  which  I  went  for  a  draught  of  the  river  water;  and,  being 
filled  with  one  of  my  rolls,  gave  the  other  two  to  a  woman 


BEXJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  29 

and  her  child  that  came  down  the  river  in  the  boat  with  us, 
and  were  waiting  to  go  farther. 

Thus  refreshed,  I  walked  again  up  the  street,  which  by  this 
time  had  many  clean-dressed  people  in  it,  who  were  all  walk 
ing  the  same  way.  I  joined  them,  and  thereby  was  led  into  the 
great  meeting-house  of  the  Quakers  near  the  market.  I  sat 
down  among  them,  and,  after  looking  round  awhile  and  hear 
ing  nothing  said,  being  very  drowsy  through  labor  and  want  of 
rest  the  preceding  night,  I  fell  fast  asleep,  and  continued  so 
till  the  meeting  broke  up,  when  one  was  kind  enough  to  rouse 
me.  This  was,  therefore,  the  first  house  I  was  in,  or  slept  in, 
in  Philadelphia. 

Walking  down  again  toward  the  river,  and,  looking  in  the 
faces  of  people,  I  met  a  young  Quaker  man  whose  countenance 
I  liked,  and,  accosting  him,  requested  he  would  tell  me  where 
a  stranger  could  get  lodging.  We  were  then  near  the  sign  of 
the  Three  Mariners,  "  Here,"  says  he,  "  is  one  place  that  en 
tertains  strangers,  but  it  is  not  a  reputable  house;  if  thee  wilt 
walk  with  me  I'll  show  thee  a  better."  He  brought  me  to  the 
Crooked  Billet,1  in  Water  Street.  Here  I  got  a  dinner;  and, 
while  I  was  eating  it,  several  sly  questions  were  asked  me,  as 
it  seemed  to  be  suspected  from  my  youth  and  appearance  that 
I  might  be  some  runaway. 

After  dinner  my  sleepiness  returned,  and  being  shown  to  a 
bed,  I  lay  down  without  undressing,  and  slept  till  six  in  the 
evening,  was  called  to  supper,  went  to  bed  again  very  early, 
and  slept  soundly  till  next  morning.  Then  I  made  myself  as 
tidy  as  I  could,  and  went  to  Andrew  Bradford,  the  printer's. 
I  found  in  the  shop  the  old  man  his  father,  whom  I  had  seen 
at  New  York,  and  who,  travelling  on  horseback,  had  got  to 
Philadelphia  before  me.  He  introduced  me  to  his  son,  who 
received  me  civilly,  gave  me  a  breakfast,  but  told  me  he  did 
not  at  present  want  a  hand,  being  lately  supplied  with  one; 

1.  At  this  time  city  houses  were  not  numbered,  and  the  streets  presented 
a  curious  display  of  crowns,  seep  ers,  rainbows,  dogrs.  elephants,  painted 
Indians,  horse-shoes,  etc.,  by  which  houses  frequented  by  the  public  were 
individualized.  Just  as  in"  old  London,  where  Milton  was  born  "  at  the 
sign  of  the  Spread  Eagle." 


30  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN". 

but  there  was  another  printer  in  town,  lately  set  up,  one 
Keimer,  who,  perhaps,  might  employ  me;  if  not,  I  should  be 
welcome  to  lodge  at  his  house,  and  he  would  give  me  a  little 
work  to  do  now  and  then  till  fuller  business  should  offer. 

The  old  gentleman  said  he  would  go  with  me  to  the  new 
printer;  and  when  we  found  him,  "Neighbor,"  says  Bradford, 
"  I  have  brought  to  see  you  a  young  man  of  your  business; 
perhaps  you  maj'  want  such  a  one."  He  asked  me  a  few  ques 
tions,  put  a  composing-stick  in  my  hand  to  see  how  I  worked, 
and  then  said  he  would  employ  me  soon,  though  he  had  just 
then  nothing  for  me  to  do;  and,  taking  old  Bradford,  whom 
he  had  never  seen  before,  to  be  one  of  the  townspeople  that 
had  a  good  will  for  him,  entered  into  a  conversation  on  his 
present  undertaking  and  prospects ;  while  Bradford,  not  dis 
covering  that  he  was  the  other  printer's  father,  on  Keimer's 
saying  he  expected  soon  to  get  the  greatest  part  of  the  business 
into  his  own  hands,  drew  him  on  by  artful  questions,  and 
starting  little  doubts,  to  explain  all  his  views,  what  interest 
he  relied  on,  and  in  what  manner  he  intended  to  proceed.  I, 
who  stood  by  and  heard  all,  saw  immediately  that  one  of  them 
was  a  crafty  old  sophister,  and  the  other  a  mere  novice. 
Bradford  left  me  with  Keimer,  who  was  greatly  surprised 
when  I  told  him  who  the  old  man  was. 

Keimer's  printing-house,  I  found,  consisted  of  an  old  shat 
tered  pr3ss  and  one  small,  worn-out  font  of  English,1  which 
he  was  then  using  himself,  composing  an  Elegy  on  Aquila 
Rose,  before  mentioned,  an  ingenious  young  man,  of  excellent 
character,  much  respected  in  the  town,  clerk  of  the  Assembly, 
and  a  pretty  poet.  Keimer  made  verses  too,  but  very  indif 
ferently.  He  could  not  be  said  to  write  them,  for  his  manner 
was  to  compose  them  in  the  types  directly  out  of  his  head. 
So  there  being  no  copy,  but  one  pair  of  cases,  and  the  Elegy 
likely  to  require  all  the  letter,  no  one  could  help  him.  I  en 
deavored  to  put  his  press  (which  he  had  not  yet  used,  and  of 
which  he  understood  nothing)  into  order  fit  to  be  worked 

1.  English.— A  kind  of  type. 


LEXJAMIX    FRANKLIN.  31 

with;  and  promising  to  come  and  print  off  his  Elegy  as  soon 
as  he  should  have  got  it  ready,  I  returned  to  Bradford's,  who 
gave  me  a  little  job  to  do  for  the  present,  and  there  I  lodged 
and  dieted.  A  few  days  after,  Keimer  sent  for  me  to  print  off 
the  Elegy.  And  now  he  had  got  another  pair  of  cases,  and  a 
pamphlet  to  reprint,  on  which  he  set  me  to  work. 

These  two  printers  I  found  poorly  qualified  for  their  busi 
ness.  Bradford  had  not  been  bred  to  it,  and  was  very  illiter 
ate;  and  Keimer,  though  something  of  a  scholar,  was  a  mere 
compositor,  knowing  nothing  of  presswork.  He  had  been 
one  of  the  French  prophets,1  and  could  act  their  enthusiastic 
agitations.  At  this  time  he  did  not  profess  any  particular 
religion,  but  something  of  all  on  occasion;  Was  very  ignorant 
of  the  world,  and  had,  as  I  afterward  found,  a  good  deal  of 
the  knave  in  his  composition.  He  did  not  like  my  lodging  at 
Bradford's  while  I  worked  with  him.  He  had  a  house,  in 
deed,  but  without  furniture,  so  he  could  not  lodge  me;  but  he 
got  me  a  lodging  at  Mr.  Read's,  before  mentioned,  who  was 
the  owner  of  his  house ;  and,  my  chest  and  clothes  being  come 
by  this  time,  I  made  rather  a  more  respectable  appearance  in 
the  eyes  of  Miss  Read  than  I  had  done  when  she  first  happened 
to  see  me  eating  my  roll  in  the  street. 

I  began  now  to  have  some  acquaintance  among  the  young 
people  of  the  town,  that  were  lovers  of  reading,  with  whom  I 
spent  my  evenings  very  pleasantly ;  and  gaining  money  by  my 
industry  and  frugality,  I  lived  very  agreeably,  forgetting  Bos 
ton  as  much  as  I  could,  and  not  desiring  that  any  there  should 
know  where  I  resided,  except  my  friend  Collins,  who  was  in 
my  secret,  and  kept  it  when  I  wrote  to  him.  At  length  an  in 
cident  happened  that  sent  me  back  again  much  sooner  than  I 
had  intended.  I  had  a  brother-in-law,  Robert  Holmes,  master 
of  a  sloop  that  traded  between  Boston  and  Delaware.  He  be 
ing  at  Newcastle,  forty  miles  below  Philadelphia,  heard  there 
of  me,  and  wrote  me  a  letter  mentioning  the  concern  of  my 
friends  in  Boston  at  my  abrupt  departure,  assuring  me  of  their 

1.  French  prophets. — Probably  a  sect  of  French  Protestants  known  us 
Cainlsards,  persecuted  by  Louis  XIV. 


32  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

good-will  to  me,  and  that  everything  would  be  accommodated 
to  my  mind  if  I  would  return,  to  which  he  exhorted  me  very 
earnestly.  I  wrote  an  answer  to  his  letter,  thanked  him  for 
his  advice,  but  stated  my  reasons  for  quitting  Boston  fully, 
and  iu  such  a  light  as  to  convince  him  I  was  not  so  wrong  as 
he  had  apprehended. 

Sir  William  Keith,  governor  of  the  province,  wai  then  at 
Newcastle,  and  Captain  Holmes,  happening  to  be  in  company 
with  him  when  my  letter  came  to  hand,  spoke  to  him  of  me, 
and  showed  him  the  letter.  The  governor  read  it,  and  seemed 
surprised  when  he  was  told  my  age.  He  said  I  appeared  a 
young  man  of  promising  parts,  and  therefore  should  be  en 
couraged;  the  printers  at  Philadelphia  were  wretched  ones; 
and,  if  I  would  set  up  there,  he  made  no  doubt  I  should  suc 
ceed;  for  his  part,  he  would  procure  me  the  public  business, 
and  do  me  every  other  service  in  his  power.  This  my  brother- 
in-law  afterwards  told  me  in  Boston,  but  I  knew  as  yet  noth 
ing  of  it;  when,  one  day,  Keimer  and  I  being  at  work  together 
near  the  window,  we  saw  the  governor  and  another  gentleman 
(which  proved  to  be  Colonel  French,  of  Newcastle),  finely 
dressed,  come  directly  across  the  street  to  our  house,  and 
heard  them  at  the  door. 

Keimer  ran  down  immediately,  thinking  it  a  visit  to  him  ; 
but  the  governor  inquired  for  me,  came  up,  and  with  a  con 
descension  and  politeness  I  had  been  quite  unused  to,  made 
me  many  compliments,  desired  to  be  acquainted  with  me, 
blamed  me  kindly  for  not  having  made  myself  known  to  him 
when  I  first  came  to  the  place,  and  would  have  me  away  with 
him  to  the  tavern,  where  he  was  going  with  Colonel  French  to- 
taste,  as  he  said,  some  excellent  Madeira.  I  was  not  a  little 
surprised,  and  Keimer  stared  like  a  pig  poisoned.  I  went,, 
however,  with  the  governor  and  Colonel  French  to  a  tavern,, 
at  the  corner  of  Third  Street,  and  over  the  Madeira  he  pro 
posed  my  setting  up  my  business,  laid  before  me  the  proba 
bilities  of  success,  and  both  he  and  Colonel  French  assured 
me  I  should  have  their  interest  and  influence  in  procuring 
the  public  business  of  both  governments.  On  my  doubting 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  33 

whether  my  father  would  assist  me  in  it,  Sir  "William  said  he 
would  give  me  a  letter  to  him,  in  which  he  would  state  the 
advantages,  and  he  did  not  doubt  of  prevailing  with  him.  So 
it  was  concluded  I  should  return  to  Boston  in  the  first  vessel, 
with  the  governor's  letter  recommending  me  to  my  father. 
In  the  mean  time  the  intention  was  to  be  kept  a  secret,  and  I 
went  on  working  with  Keimer  as  usual,  the  governor  sending 
for  me  now  and  then  to  dine  with  him,  a  very  great  honor  I 
thought  it,  and  conversing  with  me  in  the  most  affable, 
familiar,  and  friendly  manner  imaginable. 

About  the  end  of  April,  1724,  a  little  vessel  offered  for 
Boston.  I  took  leave  of  Keimer  as  going  to  see  my  friends. 
The  governor  gave  me  an  ample  letter,  saying  many  flattering 
things  of  me  to  my  father,  and  strongly  recommending  the 
project  of  my  setting  up  at  Philadelphia  as  a  thing  that  must 
make  my  fortune.  "We  struck  on  a  shoal  in  going  down  the 
bay,  and  sprung  a  leak  ;  we  had  a  blustering  time  at  sea,  and 
were  obliged  to  pump  almost  continually,  at  which  I  took  my 
turn.-  We  arrived  safe,  however,  at  Boston  in  about  a  fort 
night.  I  had  been  absent  seven  months,  and  my  friends  had 
heard  nothing  of  me  ;  for  my  brother  Holmes  was  not  yet  re 
turned,  and  had  not  written  about  me.  My  unexpected  ap 
pearance  surprised  the  family  ;  all  were,  however,  very  glad  to 
see  me,  and  made  me  welcome,  except  my  brother.  I  went  to 
see  him  at  his  printing-house.  I  was  better  dressed  than  ever 
while  in  his  service,  having  a  genteel  new  suit  from  head  to 
foot,  a  watch,  and  my  pockets  lined  with  near  five  pounds 
sterling  in  silver.  He  received  me  not  very  frankly,  looked 
me  all  over,  and  turned  to  his  work  again. 

The  journeymen  were  inquisitive  where  I  had  been,  what 
sort  of  a  country  it  was,  and  how  I  liked  it.  I  praised  it 
much,  and  the  happy  life  I  led  in  it,  expressing  strongly  my 
intention  of  returning  to  it ;  and,  one  of  them  asking  what 
kind  of  money  we  had  there,  I  produced  a  handful  of  silver, 
and  spread  it  before  them,  which  was  a  kind  of  raree-show 
they  had  not  been  used  to,  paper  being  the  money  of  Boston. 
Then  I  took  an  opportunity  of  letting  them  see  my  watch; 


34  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN". 

and,  lastly  (my  brother  still  grum  and  sullen),  I  gave  them  a 
piece  of  eight l  to  drink,  and  took  my  leave.  This  visit  of 
mine  offended  him  extremely  ;  for,  when  my  mother  some 
time  after  spoke  to  Mm  of  a  reconciliation,  and  of  her  wishes 
to  see  us  on  good  terms  together,  and  that  we  might  live  for 
the  future  as  brothers,  he  said  I  had  insulted  him  in  such  a 
manner  before  his  people  that  he  could  never  forget  or  forgive 
it.  In  this,  however,  he  was  mistaken. 

My  father  received  the  governor's  letter  with  some  apparent 
surprise,  but  said  little  of  it  to  me  for  several  days,  when 
Capt.  Holmes  returning  he  showed  it  to  him,  asked  him  if  he 
knew  Keith,  and  what  kind  of  man  he  was  ;  adding  his  opin 
ion  that  he  must  be  of  small  discretion  to  think  of  setting  a 
boy  up  in  business  who  wanted  yet  three  years  of  being  at 
man's  estate.  Holmes  said  what  he  could  in  favor  of  the 
project,  but  my  father  was  clear  in  the  impropriety  of  it,  and 
at  last  gave  a  flat  denial  to  it.  Then  he  wrote  a  civil  letter  to 
Sir  William,  thanking  him  for  the  patronage  he  had  so  kindly 
offered  me,  but  declining  to  assist  me  as  yet  in  setting  up,  I 
being,  in  his  opinion,  too  young  to  be  trusted  with  the  man 
agement  of  a  business  so  important,  and  for  which  the  prep 
aration  must  be  so  expensive. 

My  friend  and  companion  Collins,  who  was  a  clerk  in  the 
post-office,  pleased  with  the  account  I  gave  him  of  my  new 
country,  determined  to  go  thither  also  ;  and,  while  I  waited 
for  my  father's  determination,  he  set  out  before  me  by  land 
to  Ehode  Island,  leaving  his  books;  which  were  a  pretty  col 
lection  of  mathematics  and  natural  philosophy,  to  come  with 
mine  and  me  to  New  York,  where  he  proposed  to  wait  for  me. 

My  father,  though  he  did  not  approve  Sir  William's  propo 
sition,  was  yet  pleased  that  I  had  been  able  to  obtain  so 


1.  Piece  of  eight.— A  Spanish  dollar,  or  piaster,  equal  in  value  to  eight 
reals.  All  coins  were  of  foreign  coinage,  and  therefore  in  great  variety. 
Besides  the  familiar  shillings  and  sixpences,  there  were  such  coins  as  the 
picayune,  pistareen,  joe.  moidore.  and  pistole.  Each  province  fixed  its  own 
value  for  the  various  coins,  and  issued  its  own  paper  money.  It  was  an 
important  part  of  the  training  at  school  to  learn  to  translate  the  money 
values  of  one  province  into  those  of  another.  There  was  no  national  money 
until  1793. 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  35 

advantageous  a  character  from  a  person  of  such  note  \vhere  I 
had  resided,  and  that  I  had  been  so  industrious  and  careful 
as  to  equip  myself  so  handsomely  in  so  short  a  time  ;  there 
fore,  seeing  no  prospect  of  an  accommodation  between  my 
brother  and  me,  he  gave  his  consent  to  my  returning  again  to 
Philadelphia,  advised  me  to  behave  respectfully  to  the  people 
there,  endeavor  to  obtain  the  general  esteem,  and  avoid 
lampooning  and  libeling,  to  which  he  thought  I  had  too  much 
inclination  ;  telling  me,  that  by  steady  industry  and  a  pru 
dent  parsimony  I  might  save  enough  by  the  time  I  was  oue- 
and-twenty  to  set  me  up  ;  and  that,  if  I  came  near  the  matter, 
he  would  help  me  out  with  the  rest.  This  was  all  I  could  ob 
tain,  except  some  small  gifts  as  tokens  of  his  and  my  mother's 
love,  when  I  embarked  again  for  New  York,  now  with  their 
approbation  and  their  blessing, 

The  sloop  putting  in  at  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  I  visited 
my  brother  John,  who  had  been  married  and  settled  there 
some  years.  He  received  me  very  affectionately,  for  he 
always  loved  me.  A  friend  of  his,  one  Vernon,  having  some 
money  due  to  him  in  Pennsylvania,  about  thirty-five  pounds 
currency,  desired  I  would  receive  it  for  him,  and  keep  it  till  I 
had  his  directions  what  to  remit  it  in.  Accordingly,  he  gave 
me  an  order.  This  afterwards  occasioned  me  a  good  deal  of 
uneasiness. 

At  Newport  we  took  in  a  number  of  passengers  for  New 
York,  among  which  were  two  young  women,  companions, 
and  a  grave,  sensible,  matron-like  Quaker  woman,  with  her 
attendants.  I  had  shown  an  obliging  readiness  to  do  her 
some  little  services,  which  impressed  her  I  suppose  with  a 
degree  of  good-will  toward  me  ;  therefore,  when  she  saw  a 
daily  growing  familiarity  between  me  and  the  two  young 
women,  which  they  appeared  to  encourage,  she  took  me  aside, 
and  said,  "  Young  man,  I  am  concerned  for  thee,  as  thou  has 
no  friend  with  thee,  and  seems  not  to  know  much  of  the 
world,  or  of  the  snares  youth  is  exposed  to  ;  depend  upon  it, 
those  are  very  bad  women  ;  I  can  see  it  in  all  their  actions  ; 
and  if  thee  art  not  upon  thy  guard,  they  will  draw  thee  into 


36  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

some  danger  ;  they  are  strangers  to  thee,  and  I  advise  thee,  in 
a  friendly  concern  for  thy  welfare,  to  have  no  acquaintance 
with  them."  As  I  seemed  at  first  not  to  think  so  ill  of  them 
as  she  did,  she  mentioned  some  things  she  had  observed  and 
heard  thai  had  escaped  my  notice,  but  now  convinced  me  she 
was  right.  I  thanked  her  for  her  kind  advice,  and  promised 
to  follow  it.  When  we  arrived  at  New  York,  they  told  me 
where  they  lived,  and  invited  me  to  come  and  see  them  ;  but 
I  avoided  it,  and  it  was  well  I  did  ;  for  the  next  day  the  cap 
tain  missed  a  silver  spoon  and  some  other  things,  that  had 
been  taken  out  of  his  cabin,  and,  ...  he  got  a  warrant  to 
search  their  lodgings,  found  the  stolen  goods,  and  had  the 
thieves  punished.  So,  though  we  had  escaped  a  sunken  rock, 
which  we  scraped  upon  in  the  passage,  I  thought  this  escape 
of  rather  more  importance  to  me. 

At  New  York  I  found  my  friend  Collins,  who  had  arrived 
there  some  time  before  me.  We  had  been  intimate  from  chil 
dren,  and  had  read  the  same  books  together  ;  but  he  had  the 
advantage  of  more  time  for  reading  and  studying,  and  a  won 
derful  genius  for  mathematical  learning,  in  which  he  far  out- 
outstripped  me.  While  I  lived  in  Boston,  most  of  my  hours  of 
leisure  for  conversation  were  spent  with  him,  and  he  contin 
ued  a  sober  as  well  as  an  industrious  lad  ;  was  much  respected 
for  his  learning  by  several  of  the  clergy  and  other  gentlemen, 
and  seemed  to  promise  making  a  good  figure  in  life.  But, 
during  my  absence,  he  had  acquired  a  habit  of  sotting  with 
brandy ;  and  I  found  by  his  own  account,  and  what  I  heard 
from  others,  that  he  had  been  drunk  every  day  since  his 
arrival  at  New  York,  and  behaved  very  oddly.  He  had 
gamed,  too,  and  lost  his  money,  so  that  I  was  obliged  to  dis 
charge  his  lodgings,  and  defray  his  expenses  to  and  at  Phila 
delphia,  which  proved  extremely  inconvenient  to  me. 

The  then  governor  of  New  York,  Burnet  (son  of  Bishop 
Burnet),  hearing  from  the  captain  that  a  young  man,  one  of 
his  passengers,  had  a  great  many  books,  desired  he  would 
bring  me  to  see  him.  I  waited  upon  him  accordingly,  and 
should  have  taken  Collins  with  me  but  that  he  was  not  sober. 


BEKJAMIK   FKANKLIX.  37 

The  governor  treated  me  with  great  civility,  showed  me  his 
library,  which  was  a  very  large  one,  and  we  had  a  good  deal 
of  conversation  about  books  and  authors.  This  was  the  sec 
ond  governor  who  had  done  me  the  honor  to  take  notice  of 
me;  which,  to  a  poor  boy  like  me,  was  very  pleasing. 

We  proceeded  to  Philadelphia.  I  received  on  the  way  Ver- 
non's  money,  without  which  we  could  hardly  have  finished 
our  journey.  Collins  wished  to  be  employed  in  some  counting- 
house  ;  but,  whether  they  discovered  his  dramming  by  his 
breath,  or  by  his  behavior,  though  he  had  some  recommenda 
tions,  he  met  with  no  success  in  any  application,  and  contin 
ued  lodging  and  boarding  at  the  same  house  with  me,  and  at 
my  expense.  Knowing  I  had  that  money  of  Vernon's,  he  was 
continually  borrowing  of  me,  still  promising  repayment  as 
soon  as  he  should  be  in  business.  At  length  he  had  got  so 
much  oi  it  that  I  was  distressed  to  think  what  I  should  do  in 
case  of  being  called  on  to  remit  it. 

His  drinking  continued,  about  which  we  sometimes  quar 
reled  ;  for,  when  a  little  intoxicated,  he  was  very  fractious. 
Once,  in  a  boat  on  the  Delaware  with  some  other  young  men, 
he  refused  to  row  in  his  turn.  "  I  will  be  rowed  home,"  says 
he.  "  We  will  not  row  you,"  says  I.  "  You  must,  or  stay  all 
night  on  the  water,"  says  he,  "just  as  you  please."  The 
others  said,  "  Let  us  row  ;  what  signifies  it  ?"  But,  my  mind 
being  soured  with  his  other  conduct,  I  continued  to  refuse. 
So  he  swore  he  would  make  me  row,  or  throw  me  overboard; 
and  coming  along,  stepping  on  the  thwarts,  toward  me,  when 
he  came  up  and  struck  at  me,  I  clapped  my  hand  under  his 
crotch,  and,  rising,  pitched  him  head-foremost  into  the  river. 
1  knew  he  was  a  good  swimmer,  and  so  was  under  little  con 
cern  about  him  ;  but  before  he  could  get  round  to  lay  hold  of 
the  boat,  we  had  with  a  few  strokes  pulled  her  out  of  his 
reach  ;  and  ever  when  he  drew  near  the  boat,  we  asked  if  he 
would  row,  striking  a  few  strokes  to  slide  her  away  from  him. 
He  was  ready  to  die  with  vexation,  and  obstinately  would  not 
promise  to  row.  However,  seeing  him  at  last  beginning  to 
tire,  we  lifted  him  in  and  brought  him  home  dripping  wet  in 


38  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

the  evening.  We  hardly  exchanged  a  civil  word  afterwards, 
and  a  West  India  captain,  who  had  a  commission  to  procure 
a  tutor  for  the  sons  of  a  gentleman  at  Barbadoes,  happening 
to  meet  with  him,  agreed  to  carry  him  thither.  He  left  me 
then,  promising  to  remit  me  the  first  money  he  should  receive 
in  order  to  discharge  the  debt;  but  I  never  heard  of  him  after. 

The  breaking  into  this  money  of  Vernon's  was  one  of  the 
first  great  errata  of  my  life  ;  and  this  affair  showed  that  my 
father  was  not  much  out  in  his  judgment  when  he  supposed 
me  too  young  to  manage  business  of  importance.  But  Sir 
William,  on  reading  his  letter,  said  he  was  too  prudent. 
There  was  great  difference  in  persons  ;  and  discretion  did  not 
always  accompany  years,  nor  was  youth  always  without  it. 
"  And  since  he  will  not  set  you  iip,"  says  he,  "  I  will  do  it  my 
self.  Give  me  an  inventory  of  the  things  necessary  to  be  had 
from  England,  and  I  will  send  for  them.  You  shall  repay  me 
when  you  are  able  ;  I  am  resolved  to  have  a  good  printer  here, 
and  I  am  sure  you  must  succeed."  This  was  spoken  with  such 
an  appearance  of  cordiality,  that  1  had  not  the  least  doubt  of 
his  meaning  what  he  said.  I  had  hitherto  kept  the  proposi 
tion  of  my  setting  up  a  secret  in  Philadelphia,  and  I  still  kept 
it.  Had  it  been  known  that  I  depended  on  the  governor, 
probably  some  friend,  that  knew  him  better,  would  have  ad 
vised  me  not  to  rely  on  him,  as  I  afterwards  heard  it  as  his 
known  character  to  be  liberal  of  promises  which  he  never 
meant  to  keep.  Yet,  unsolicited  as  he  was  by  me,  how  could 
I  think  his  generous  offers  insincere  ?  I  believed  him  one  of 
the  best  men  in  the  world. 

I  presented  him  an  inventory  of  a  little  printing-house, 
amounting  by  my  computation  to  about  one  hundred  pounds 
sterling.  He  liked  it,  but  asked  me  if  my  being  on  the  spot  in 
England  to  choose  the  types,  and  see  that  everything  was 
good  of  the  kind,  might  not  be  of  some  advantage.  ''Then," 
says  he,  "when  there,  you  may  make  acquaintances,  and  es 
tablish  correspondences  in  the  bookselling  and  stationery  way." 
I  agreed  that  this  might  be  advantageous.  "Then,"  says. he, 
"get  yourself  ready  to  go  with  Annis;  "  which  was  the  annual 


BENJAMIN    FR  AX  KLIN".  39 

ship,  and  the  only  one  at  that  time  usually  passing  between 
London  and  Philadelphia.  But  it  would  be  some  months  be 
fore  Aunts  sailed,  so  I  continued  working  with  Keimer,  fret 
ting  about  the  money  Collins  had  got  from  me,  and  in  daily 
apprehensions  of  being  called  upon  by  Vernon,  which,  how 
ever,  did  not  happen  for  some  years  after. 

I  believe  I  have  omitted  mentioning  that,  in  my  first  voy 
age  from  Boston,  being  becalmed  off  Block  Island,  our  people 
set  about  catching  cod,  and  hauled  up  a  great  many.  Hitherto 
I  had  stuck  to  my  resolution  of  not  eating  animal  food",  and 
on  this  occasion  I  considered,  with  my  master  Tryon,  the  tak 
ing  every  fish  as  a  kind  of  unprovoked  murder,  since  none  of 
them  had,  or  ever  could  do  us  any  injury  that  might  justify 
the  slaughter.  All  this  seemed  very  reasonable.  But  I  had 
formerly  been  a  great  lover  of  fish,  and,  when  this  came  hot 
out  of  the  frying-pan,  it  smelt  admirably  well.  I  balanced 
some  time  between  principle  and  inclination,  till  I  recollected 
that,  when  the  fish  were  opened,  I  saw  smaller  fish  taken  out 
of  their  stomachs  ;  then  thought  I,  "If  you  eat  one  another,  I 
don't  see  why  we  mayn't  eat  you."  So  I  dined  upon  cod  very 
heartily,  and  continued  to  eat  with  other  people,  returning 
only  now  and  then  occasionally  to  a  vegetable  diet.  So  con 
venient  a  thing  it  is  to  be  a  reasonable  creature,  since  it  en 
ables  one  to  find  or  make  a  reason  for  everything  one  has  a 
mind  to  do. 

Keimer  and  I  lived  on  a  pretty  good  familiar  footing,  and 
agreed  tolerably  well,  for  he  suspected  nothing  of  my  setting 
up.  He  retained  a  great  deal  of  his  old  enthusiasms  and 
loved  argumentation.  We  therefore  had  many  disputations. 
I  used  to  work  him  so  with  my  Socratic  method,  and  had  tre 
panned  him  so  often  by  questions  apparently  so  distant  from 
any  point  we  had  in  hand,  and  yet  by  degrees  led  to  the 
point,  and  brought  him  into  difficulties  and  contradictions, 
that  at  last  he  grew  ridiculously  cautious,  and  would  hardly 
answer  me  the  most  common  question,  without  asking  first : 
"  What  do  you  intend  to  infer  from  that?"  However,  it 
gave  him  so  high  an  opinion  of  my  abilities  in  the  confuting 


38  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

the  evening.  "We  hardly  exchanged  a  civil  word  afterwards, 
and  a  West  India  captain,  who  had  a  commission  to  procure 
a  tutor  for  the  sons  of  a  gentleman  at  Barbadoes,  happening 
to  meet  with  him,  agreed  to  carry  him  thither.  He  left  me 
then,  promising  to  remit  me  the  first  money  he  should  receive 
in  order  to  discharge  the  debt;  but  I  never  heard  of  him  after. 

The  breaking  into  this  money  of  Vernon's  was  one  of  the 
first  great  errata  of  my  life  ;  and  this  affair  showed  that  my 
father  was  not  much  out  in  his  judgment  when  he  supposed 
me  too  young  to  manage  business  of  importance.  But  Sir 
William,  on  reading  his  letter,  said  he  was  too  prudent. 
There  was  great  difference  in  persons  ;  and  discretion  did  not 
always  accompany  years,  nor  was  youth  always  without  it. 
"  And  since  he  will  not  set  you  up,"  says  he,  "I  will  do  it  my 
self.  Give  me  an  inventory  of  the  things  necessary  to  be  had 
from  England,  and  I  will  send  for  them.  You  shall  repay  me 
when  you  are  able  ;  I  am  resolved  to  have  a  good  printer  here, 
and  I  am  sure  you  must  succeed."  This  was  spoken  with  such 
an  appearance  of  cordiality,  that  I  had  not  the  least  doubt  of 
his  meaning  what  he  said.  I  had  hitherto  kept  the  proposi 
tion  of  my  setting  up  a  secret  in  Philadelphia,  and  I  still  kept 
it.  Had  it  been  known  that  I  depended  on  the  governor, 
probably  some  friend,  that  knew  him  better,  would  have  ad 
vised  me  not  to  rely  on  him,  as  I  afterwards  heard  it  as  his 
known  character  to  be  liberal  of  promises  which  he  never 
meant  to  keep.  Yet,  unsolicited  as  he  was  by  me,  how  could 
I  think  his  generous  offers  insincere  ?  I  believed  him  one  of 
the  best  men  in  the  world. 

I  presented  him  an  inventory  of  a  little  printing-house, 
amounting  by  my  computation  to  about  one  hundred  pounds 
sterling.  He  liked  it,  but  asked  me  if  my  being  on  the  spot  in 
England  to  choose  the  types,  and  see  that  everything  was 
good  of  the  kind,  might  not  be  of  some  advantage.  "Then," 
says  he,  "when  there,  you  may  make  acquaintances,  and  es 
tablish  correspondences  in  the  bookselling  and  stationery  way." 
I  agreed  that  this  might  be  advantageous.  "Then,"  says.be, 
"get  yourself  ready  to  go  with  Annis;  "  which  was  the  annual 


BENJAMIN    FR  AX  KLIN".  39 

ship,  and  the  only  one  at  that  time  usually  passing  between 
London  and  Philadelphia.  But  it  would  be  some  months  be 
fore  Ann-is  sailed,  so  I  continued  working  with  Keimer,  fret 
ting  about  the  money  Collins  had  got  from  me,  and  in  daily 
apprehensions  of  being  called  upon  by  Vernon,  which,  how 
ever,  did  not  happen  for  some  years  after. 

I  believe  I  have  omitted  mentioning  that,  in  my  first  voy 
age  from  Boston,  being  becalmed  off  Block  Island,  our  people 
set  about  catching  cod,  and  hauled  up  a  great  many.  Hitherto 
I  had  stuck  to  my  resolution  of  not  eating  animal  food",  and 
on  this  occasion  I  considered,  with  my  master  Tryon,  the  tak 
ing  every  fish  as  a  kind  of  unprovoked  murder,  since  none  of 
them  had,  or  ever  could  do  us  any  injury  that  might  justify 
the  slaughter.  All  this  seemed  very  reasonable.  But  I  had 
formerly  been  a  great  lover  of  fish,  and,  when  this  came  hot 
out  of  the  frying-pan,  it  smelt  admirably  well.  I  balanced 
some  time  between  principle  and  inclination,  till  I  recollected 
that,  when  the  fish  were  opened,  I  saw  smaller  fish  taken  out 
of  their  stomachs  ;  then  thought  I,  "If  you  eat  one  another,  I 
don't  see  why  we  mayn't  eat  you."  So  I  dined  upon  cod  very 
heartily,  and  continued  to  eat  with  other  people,  returning 
only  now  and  then  occasionally  to  a  vegetable  diet.  So  con 
venient  a  thing  it  is  to  be  a  reasonable  creature,  since  it  en 
ables  one  to  find  or  make  a  reason  for  everything  one  has  a 
mind  to  do. 

Keimer  and  I  lived  on  a  pretty  good  familiar  footing,  and 
agreed  tolerably  well,  for  he  suspected  nothing  of  my  setting 
up.  He  retained  a  great  deal  of  his  old  enthusiasms  and 
loved  argumentation.  We  therefore  had  many  disputations. 
I  used  to  work  him  so  with  my  Socratic  method,  and  had  tre 
panned  him  so  often  by  questions  apparently  so  distant  from 
any  point  we  had  in  hand,  and  yet  by  degrees  led  to  the 
point,  and  brought  him  into  difficulties  and  contradictions, 
that  at  last  he  grew  ridiculously  cautious,  and  would  hardly 
answer  me  the  most  common  question,  without  asking  first  : 
"  What  do  you  intend  to  infer  from  that?"  However,  it 
gave  him  so  high  an  opinion  of  my  abilities  in  the  confuting 


40  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

way,  that  he  seriously  proposed  my  being  his  colleague  in  a 
project  he  had  of  setting  up  a  new  sect.  He  was  to  preach  the 
doctrines,  and  I  was  to  confound  all  opponents.  When  he 
came  to  explain  with  me  upon  the  doctrines,  I  found  several 
conundrums  which  I  objected  to,  unless  I  might  have  my  way 
a  little  too,  and  introduce  some  of  mine. 

Keimer  wore  his  beard  at  full  length,  because  somewhere  in 
the  Mosaic  law  it  is  said,  "  Thou  shalt  not  mar  the  corners  of 
thy  beard.'"  He  likewise  kept  the  Seventh  day,  Sabbath  ;  and 
these  two  points  were  essentials  with  him.  I  disliked  both  ; 
but  agreed  to  admit  them  upon  condition  of  his  adopting  the 
doctrine  of  using  no  animal  food.  "  I  doubt,"  said  he,  "  my 
constitution  will  not  bear  that."  I  assured  him  it  would,  and 
that  he  would  be  better  for  it.  He  was  usually  a  great  glut 
ton,  and  I  promised  myself  some  diversion  in  half-starving 
him.  He  agreed  to  try  the  practice,  if  I  would  keep  him  com 
pany.  I  did  so,  and  we  held  it  for  three  months.  We  had  our 
victuals  dressed,  and  brought  to  us  regularly  by  a  woman  in 
the  neighborhood,  who  had  from  me  a  list  of  forty  dishes,  to 
be  prepared  for  us  at  different  times,  in  all  which  there  was 
neither  fish,  flesh,  nor  fowl,  and  the  whim  suited  me  the  bet 
ter  at  this  time  from  the  cheapness  of  it,  not  costing  us  above 
eighteen  pence  sterling  each  per  week.  I  have  since  kept  sev 
eral  Lents  most  strictly,  leaving  the  common  diet  for  that, 
and  that  for  the  common,  abruptly,  without  the  least  incon 
venience,  so  that  I  think  there  is  little  in  the  advice  of  making 
those  changes  by  easy  gradations.  I  went  on  pleasantly,  but 
poor  Keimer  suffered  grievously,  tired  of  the  project,  longed 
for  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt,  and  ordered  a  roast  pig.  He  in 
vited  me  and  two  women  friends  to  dine  with  him  ;  but,  it 
being  brought  too  soon  upon  the  table,  he  could  not  resist  the 
temptation,  and  ate  the  whole  before  we  came. 

I  had  made  some  courtship  during  this  time  to  Miss  Read. 
I  had  a  great  respect  and  affection  for  her,  and  had  some 
reason  to  believe  she  had  the  same  for  me  ;  but,  as  I  was 
about  to  take  a  long  voyage,  and  we  were  both  very  you'ng, 
only  a  little  above  eighteen,  it  was  thought  most  prudent  by 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  41 

her  mother  to  prevent  our  going  too  far  at  present,  as  a  mar 
riage,  if  it  was  to  take  place,  would  be  more  convenient  after 
my  return,  when  I  should  be,  as  I  expected,  set  up  in  my  bus 
iness.  Perhaps,  too,  she  thought  my  expectations  not  so  well 
founded  as  I  imagined  them  to  be. 

My  chief  acquaintances  at  this  time  were  Charles  Osborne, 
Joseph  Watson,  and  James  Ralph,  all  lovers  of  reading.  The 
two  first  were  clerks  to  an  eminent  scrivener  or  conveyancer  in 
the  town,  Charles  Brogden  ;  the  other  was  clerk  to  a  merchant. 
Watson  was  a  pious,  sensible  young  man,  of  great  integrity  ; 
the  others  rather  more  lax  in  their  principles  of  religion,  par 
ticularly  Ralph,  who,  as  well  as  Collins,  had  been  unsettled  by 
me,  for  which  they  both  made  me  suffer.  Osborne  was  sensi 
ble,  candid,  frank;  sincere  and  affectionate  to  his  friends  ;  but, 
in  literary  matters,  too  fond  of  criticising.  Ralph  was  ingen 
ious,  genteel  in  his  manners,  and  extremely  eloquent  ;  I  think 
I  never  knew  a  prettier  talker.  Both  of  them  great  admirers 
of  poetry,  and  began  to  try  their  hands  in  little  pieces.  Many 
pleasant  walks  we  four  had  together  on  Sundays  into  the 
woods,  near  Schuylkill,  where  we  read  to  one  another  and 
conferred  on  what  we  read. 

Ralph  was  inclined  to  pursue  the  study  of  poetry,  not  doubt 
ing  but  he  might  become  eminent  in  it,  and  make  his  fortune  by 
it,  alleging  that  the  best  poets  must,  when  they  first  began  to 
write,  make  as  many  faults  as  he  did.  Osborne  dissuaded 
him,  assured  him  he  had  no  genius  for  poetry,  and  advised 
him  to  think  of  nothing  beyond  the  business  he  was  bred  to  ; 
that,  in  the  mercantile  way,  though  he  had  no  stock,  he  might, 
by  his  diligence  and  punctuality,  recommend  himself  to  em 
ployment  as  a  factor,  and  in  time  acquire  wherewith  to  trade 
on  his  own  account.  I  approved  the  amusing  one's  self  with 
poetry  now  and  then,  so  far  as  to  improve  one's  language,  but 
no  farther. 

On  this  it  was  proposed  that  we  should  each  of  us,  at  our 
next  meeting,  produce  a  piece  of  our  own  composing,  in  order 
to  improve  by  our  mutual  observations,  criticisms,  and  cor 
rections.  As  language  and  expression  were  what  we  bad  in 


44  BENJAMIN   FRAKKLItf. 

sell  on  commission;  but  I  found  afterwards,  that,  through 
some  discontent  with  his  wife's  relations,  he  proposed  to  leave 
her  on  their  hands,  and  never  return  again.  Having  taken 
leave  of  my  friends,  and  interchanged  some  promises  with 
Miss  Read,  I  left  Philadelphia  in  the  ship,  which  anchored  at 
Newcastle.  The  governor  was  there;  but  when  I  went  to  his 
lodging,  the  secretary  came  to  me  from  him  with  the  civilest 
message  in  the  world,  that  he  could  not  then  see  me,  being 
engaged  in  business  of  the  utmost  importance,  but  should 
send  the  letters  to  me  on  board,  wished  me  heartily  a  good 
voyage  and  a  speedy  return,  etc.  I  returned  on  board  a 
little  puzzled,  but  still  not  doubting. 

Mr.  Andrew  Hamilton,  a  famous  lawyer  of  Philadelphia, 
had  taken  passage  in  the  same  ship  for  himself  and  son,  and 
with  Mr.  Denham,  a  Quaker  merchant,  and  Messrs.  Onion 
and  Eussel,  masters  of  an  iron-work  in  Maryland,  had  en 
gaged  the  great  cabin;  so  that  Ralph  and  I  were  forced  to 
take  up  with  a  berth  in  the  steerage,  and  none  on  board 
knowing  us,  were  considered  as  ordinary  persons.  But  Mr. 
Hamilton  and  his  son  (it  was  James,  since  governor)  returned 
from  Newcastle  to  Philadelphia,  the  father  being  recalled  by 
a  great  fee  to  plead  for  a  seized  ship;  and,  just  before  we 
sailed,  Colonel  French  coming  on  board,  and  showing  me 
great  respect,  I  was  more  taken  notice  of,  and,  with  my 
friend  Ralph,  invited  by  the  other  gentlemen  to  come  into  the 
cabin,  there  being  now  room.  Accordingly,  we  removed 
thither. 

Understanding  that  Colonel  French  had  brought  on  board 
the  governor's  despatches,  I  asked  the  captain  for  those 
letters  that  were  to  be  under  my  care.  He  said  all  were 
put  into  the  bag  together  and  he  could  not  then  come  at 
them;  but,  before  we  landed  in  England,  I  should  have  an 
opportunity  of  picking  them  out;  so  I  was  satisfied  for  the 
present,  and  we  proceeded  on  our  voyage".  We  had  a  sociable 
company  in  the  cabin,  and  lived  uncommonly  well,  having  the 
addition  of  all  Mr.  Hamilton's  stores,  who  had  laid  in  plenti 
fully.  In  this  passage  Mr.  Denham  contracted  a  friendship 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  45 

for  me  that  continued  during  his  life.  The  voyage  was  other 
wise  not  a  pleasant  one,  as  we  had  a  great  deal  of  bad 
wTeuther. 

When  we  came  into  the  Channel,  the  captain  kept  his  word 
with  me,  and  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  examining  the  bag 
for  the  governor's  letters.  I  found  iione  upon  which  my 
name  was  put  as  under  my  care.  I  picked  out  six  or  seven, 
that,  by  the  handwriting,  I  thought  might  be  the  promised 
letters,  especially  as  one  of  them  was  directed  to  Basket,  the 
king's  printer,  and  another  to  some  stationer.  We  arrived  in 
London  the  24th  of  December,  1724.  I  waited  upon  the 
stationer,  who  came  first  in  my  way,  delivering  the  letter  as 
from  Governor  Keith.  "I  don't  know  such  a  person,"  says 
he;  but,  opening  the  letter,  "O!  this  is  from  Riddlesden.  I 
have  lately  found  him  to  be  a  complete  rascal,  and  I  will  have 
nothing  to  do  with  him,  nor  receive  any  letters  from  him." 
So,  putting  the  letter  into  my  hand,  he  turned  on  his  heel  and 
left  me  to  serve  some  customer.  I  was  surprised  to  find  these 
were  not  the  governor's  letters;  and,  after  recollecting  and 
comparing  circumstances,  I  began  to  doubt  his  sincerity.  I 
found  my  friend  Denham,  and  opened  the  whole  affair  to 
him.  He  let  me  into  Keith's  character;  told  me  there  was 
not  the  least  probability  that  he  had  written  any  letters  for 
me;  that  no  one  who  knew  him  had  the  smallest  dependence 
on  him;  and  he  laughed  at  the  notion  of  the  governor's 
giving  me  a  letter  of  credit,  having,  as  he  said,  no  credit  to 
give.  On  my  expressing  some  concern  about  what  I  should 
do,  he  advised  me  to  endeavor  getting  some  employment  in 
the  way  of  my  business.  "Among  the  printers  here,"  said 
he,  "you  will  improve  yourself,  and  when  you  return  to 
America,  you  will  set  up  to  greater  advantage." 

We  both  of  us  happened  to  know,  as  well  as  the  stationer, 
that  Riddlesden,  the  attorney,  was  a  very  knave.  He  had 
half  ruined  Miss  Read's  father  by  persuading  him  to  be  bound 
for  him.  By  this  letter  it  appeared  there  was  a  secret  scheme 
on  foot  to  the  prejudice  of  Hamilton  (supposed  to  be  then 
coming  over  with  us);  and  that  Keith  was  concerned  in  it 


46  BENJAMIN   FEANKLIN. 

with  Riddlesden.  Denham,  who  was  a  friend  of  Hamilton's, 
thought  he  ought  to  be  acquainted  with  it;  so,  when  he 
arrived  in  England,  which  was  soon  after,  partly  from  resent 
ment  and  ill-will  to  Keith  and  Riddlesden,  and  partly  from 
good-will  to  him,  I  waited  on  him,  and  gave  him  the  letter. 
He  thanked  me  cordially,  the  information  being  of  importance 
to  him;  and  from  that  time  he  became  my  friend,  greatly  to 
my  advantage  afterwards  on  many  occasions. 

But  what  shall  we  think  of  a  governor's  playing  such  pitiful 
tricks,  and  imposing  so  grossly  on  a  poor  ignorant  boy !  It 
was  a  habit  he  had  acquired.  He  wished  to  please  everybody, 
and,  having  little  to  give,  he  gave  expectations.  He  was 
otherwise  an  ingenious,  sensible  man,  a  pretty  good  writer, 
and  a  good  governor  for  the  people,  though  not  for  his  con 
stituents,  the  proprietaries,  whose  instructions  he  sometimes 
disregarded.  Several  of  our  best  laws  were  of  his  planning 
and  passed  during  his  administration. 

Ralph  and  I  were  inseparable  companions.  We  took  lodg 
ings  together  in  Little  Britain1  at  three  shillings  and  sixpence 
a  week — as  much  as  we  could  then  afford.  He  found  some 
relations,  but  they  were  poor,  and  unable  to  assist  him.  He 
now  let  me  know  his  intentions  of  remaining  in  London,  and 
that  he  never  meant  to  return  to  Philadelphia.  He  had 
brought  no  money  with  him,  the  whole  he  could  muster 
having  been  expended  in  paying  his  passage.  I  had  fifteen 
pistoles  ;  so  he  borrowed  occasionally  of  me  to  subsist  while 
he  was  looking  out  for  business.  He  first  endeavored  to  get 
into  the  playhouse,  believing  himself  qualified  for  an  actor; 
but  Wilkes,2  to  whom  he  applied  advised  him  candidly  not  to 
think  of  that  employment,  as  it  was  impossible  he  should 
succeed  in  it.  Then  he  proposed  to  Roberts,  a  publisher  in 
Paternoster  Row,  to  write  for  him  a  weekly  paper  like  the 
Spectator,  on  certain  conditions,  which  Roberts  did  not  ap- 


1.  Little  Britain.— A   picturesque  part  of  old  London.     See  Irving's 
delightful  description  of  it  in  the  "  Sketch-book." 

2.  Wilkes.— A  comedian  of  the  period. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  47 

prove.  Then  he  endeavored  to  get  employment  as  a  hackney 
writer,  to  copy  for  the  stationers  and  lawyers  about  the 
Temple,1  but  could  find  no  vacancy. 

I  immediately  got  into  work  at  Palmer's,  then  a  famous 
printing-house  in  Bartholomew  Close,  and  here  I  continued 
near  a  year.  I  was  pretty  diligent,  but  spent  with  Ralph  a 
good  deal  of  my  earnings  in  going  to  plays  and  other  places 
of  amusement.  "We  had  together  consumed  all  my  pistoles, 
and  now  just  rubbed  on  from  hand  to  mouth.  He  seemed 
quite  to  forget  his  wife  and  child,  and  I,  by  degrees,  iny  en 
gagements  with  Miss  Eead,  to  whom  I  never  wrote  more  than 
one  letter,  and  that  was  to  let  her  know  I  was  not  likely  soon 
to  return.  This  was  another  of  the  great  errata  of  my  life, 
which  I  should  wish  to  correct  if  I  were  to  live  it  over  again. 
In  fact,  by  our  expenses,  I  was  constantly  kept  unable  to  pay 
my  passage. 

At  Palmer's  I  was  employed  in  composing2  for  the  second 
edition  of  Wollaston's  "Religion  of  Nature."  Some  of  his 
reasonings  not  appearing  to  me  well  founded,  I  wrote  a  little 
metaphysical  piece  in  which  I  made  remarks  on  them.  It 
was  entitled  "  Dissertation  on  Liberty  and  Necessity,  Pleasure 
and  Pain."  I  inscribed  it  to  my  friend  Ralph;  I  printed  a 
small  number.  It  occasioned  my  being  more  considered  by 
Mr.  Palmer  as  a  young  man  of  some  ingenuity,  though  he 
seriously  expostulated  with  me  upon  the  principles  of  my 
pamphlet,  which  to  him  appeared  abominable.  My  printing 
this  pamphlet  was  another  erratum.  While  I  lodged  in  Little 
Britain  I  made  an  acquaintance  with  one  Wilcox,  a  bookseller, 
whose  shop  was  at  the  next  door.  He  had  an  immense  collec 
tion  of  second-hand  books.  Circulating  libraries  were  not 
then  in  use  ;  but  we  agreed  that,  on  certain  reasonable  terms, 
which  I  have  now7  forgotten,  I  might  take,  read,  and  return 
any  of  his  books.  This  I  esteemed  a  great  advantage,  and  I 
made  as  much  use  of  it  as  I  could. 


1.  Temple. — A  group  of  buildings  occupied  by  the  lawyers  in  that  part 
of  London  where  the  Knights  Templars  had  their  headquarters. 

2.  Composing.— That  is,  seitiiiy  type. 


48  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

My  pamphlet  by  some  means  falling  into  the  hands  of  one 
Lyons,  a  surgeon,  author  of  a  book  entitled  "  The  Infallibility 
of  Human  Judgment,"  it  occasioned  an  acquaintance  between 
us.  He  took  great  notice  of  me,  called  on  me  often  to  con 
verse  on  those  subjects,  carried  me  to  the  Horns,  a  pale-ale 

house  in Lane,  Cheapside,  and  introduced  me  to  Dr. 

Mandeville,  author  of  the  "Fable  of  the  Bees,"  who  had  a 
club  there,  of  which  he  was  the  soul,  being  a  most  facetious, 
entertaining  companion.  Lyons,  too,  introduced  me  to  Dr. 
Pemberton,  at  Batson's  Coffee-house,  who  promised  to  give 
me  an  opportunity,  some  time  or  other,  of  seeing  Sir  Isaac 
Newton,  of  which  I  was  extremely  desirous ;  but  this  never 
happened. 

I  had  brought  over  a  few  curiosities,  among  wrhich  the 
principal  was  a  purse  made  of  the  asbestos,  which  purifies  by 
fire.  Sir  Hans  Sloane  heard  of  it,  came  to  see  me,  and  in 
vited  me  to  his  house  in  Bloomsbury  Square,  where  he  showed 
me  all  his  curiosities,  and  persuaded  me  to  let  him  add  that 
to  the  number,  for  which  he  paid  me  handsomely. 

In  our  house  there  lodged  a  young  woman,  a  milliner,  who, 
I  think,  had  a  shop  in  the  Cloisters.  She  had  been  genteelly 
bred,  was  sensible  and  lively,  and  of  most  pleasing  conversa 
tion.  Ralph  read  plays  to  her  in  the  evenings,  they  grew 
intimate,  she  took  another  lodging,  and  he  followed  her. 
They  lived  together  some  time  ;  but,  he  being  still  out  of 
business,  and  her  income  not  sufficient  to  maintain  them  with 
her  child,  he  took  a  resolution  of  going  from  London,  to  try 
for  a  country  school,  which  he  thought  himself  well  qualified 
to  undertake,  as  he  wrote  an  excellent  hand,  and  was  a  master 
of  arithmetic  and  accounts.  This,  however,  he  deemed  a 
business  below  him,  and  confident  of  future  better  fortune, 
when  he  should  be  unwilling  to  have  it  known  that  he  once 
was  so  meanly  employed,  he  changed  his  name,  and  did  me 
the  honor  to  assume  mine  ;  for  I  soon  after  had  a  letter  from 
him,  acquainting  me  that  he  was  settled  in  a  small  village 
(in  Berkshire,  I  think  it  was,  where  he  taught  reading  and 
writing  to  ten  or  a  dozen  boys,  at  sixpence  each  per  week), 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN".  49 

recommending  Mrs.  T to  my  care,  and  desiring  me  to 

write  to  him,  directing  for  Mr.  Franklin,  schoolmaster,  at 
such  a  place. 

He  continued  to  write  frequently,  sending  me  large  speci 
mens  of  an  epic  poem  which  he  was  then  composing,  and 
desiring  my  remarks  and  corrections.  These  I  gave  him  from 
time  to  time,  but  endeavored  rather  to  discourage  his  pro 
ceeding.  One  of  Young's  Satires  was  then  just  published. 
I  copied  and  sent  him  a  great  part  of  it.  which  set  in  a  strong 
light  the  folly  of  pursuing  the  Muses  with  any  hope  of  ad 
vancement  by  them.  All  was  in  vain  ;  sheets  of  the  poem 
continued  to  come  by  every  post.  In  the  mean  time  [another 
matter  which  gave  him  offense]  made  a  breach  between  us  ; 
and,  when  he  returned  again  to  London,  he  let  me  know  he 
thought  I  had  canceled  all  the  obligations  he  had  been  under 
to  me.  So  I  found  I  was  never  to  expect  his  repaying  me 
what  I  lent  to  him,  or  advanced  for  him.  This,  however,  was 
not  then  of  much  consequence,  as  he  was  totally  unable  ;  and 
in  the  loss  of  his  friendship  I  found  myself  relieved  from  a 
burthen.  I  now  began  to  think  of  getting  a  little  money 
beforehand,  and,  expecting  better  work,  I  left  Palmer's  to 
work  at  Watts's,  near  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  a  still  greater  print 
ing-house.1  Here  I  continued  all  the  rest  of  my  stay  in 
London. 

At  my  first  admission  into  this  printing-house  I  took  to 
working  at  press,  imagining  I  felt  a  want  of  the  bodily  exer 
cise  I  had  been  used  to  in  America,  where  presswork  is  mixed 
with  composing.  I  drank  only  water  ;  the  other  workmen, 
near  fifty  in  number,  were  great  guzzlers  of  beer.  On  occa 
sion,  I  carried  up  and  down  stairs  a  large  form  of  types  in 
each  hand,  when  others  carried  but  one  in  both  hands.  They 
wondered  to  see,  from  this  and  several  instances,  that  the 
Water -American,  as  they  called  me,  was  stronger  than  them 
selves,  who  drank  strong  beer  !  We  had  an  alehouse  boy  who 
attended  always  in  the  house  to  supply  the  workmen.  My 

1.  The  printing-press  used  by  Franklin  at  Watts's  was  exhibited  at  the 
Philadelphia  Exposition,  1876,  and  is  now  in  the  Patent  Office  at  Washington. 


50  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

companion  at  the  press  drank  every  day  a  pint  before  break 
fast,  a  pint  at  breakfast  with  his  bread  and  cheese,  a  pint  be 
tween  breakfast  and  dinner,  a  pint  at  dinner,  a  pint  in  the 
afternoon  about  six  o'clock,  and  another  when  he  had  done 
his  day's  work.  I  thought  it  a  detestable  custom;  but  it  was 
necessary,  he  supposed,  to  drink  strong  beer  that  he  might  be 
strong  to  labor.  I  endeavored  to  convince  him  that  the  bodily 
strength  afforded  by  beer  could  only  be  in  proportion  to  the 
grain  or  flour  of  the  barley  dissolved  in  the  water  of  which  it 
was  made  ;  that  there  was  more  flour  in  a  pennyworth  of 
bread  ;  and  therefore,  if  he  would  eat  that  with  a  pint  of 
water,  it  would  give  him  more  strength  than  a  quart  of  beer. 
He  drank  on,  however,  and  had  four  or  five  shillings  to  pay 
out  of  his  wages  every  Saturday  night  for  that  muddling 
liquor  ;  an  expense  I  was  free  from.  And  thus  these  poor 
devils  keep  themselves  always  under. 

Watts,  after  some  weeks,  desiring  to  have  me  in  the  com 
posing-room,  I  left  the  pressmen  ;  a  new  bien  venu  or  sum 
for  drink,  being  five  shillings,  was  demanded  of  me  by  the 
compositors.  I  thought  it  an  imposition,  as  I  had  paid  below  ; 
the  master  thought  so  too,  and  forbade  my  paying  it.  I  stood 
out  two  or  three  weeks,  was  accordingly  considered  as  an  ex 
communicate,  and  had  so  many  little  pieces  of  private  mis 
chief  done  me,  by  mixing  my  sorts,  transposing  my  pages, 
breaking  my  matter,  etc.,  etc.,  if  I  were  ever  so  little  out  of 
the  room,  and  all  ascribed  to  the  chapel  ghost,  which  they 
said  ever  haunted  those  not  regularly  admitted,  that,  notwith 
standing  the  master's  protection,  I  found  myself  obliged  to 
comply  and  pay  the  money,  convinced  of  the  folly  of  being  on 
ill  terms  with  those  one  is  to  live  with  continually. 

I  was  now  on  a  fair  footing  with  them,  and  soon  acquired 
considerable  influence.  I  proposed  some  reasonable  altera 
tions  in  their  chapel 1  laws,  and  carried  them  against  all 
opposition.  From  my  example,  a  great  part  of  them  left  their 

1.  "A  printing-house  used  to  be  called  a  chapel  by  the  workmen,  and  a 
journeyman,  on  entering  a  printing-house,  was  accustomed  to  pay  one  or 
more  gallons  of  beer  '  for  the  good  of  the  chapel.1  " — Bigelow* 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  51 

muddling  breakfast  of  beer,  and  bread,  and  cheese,  finding 
they  could  with  me  be  supplied  from  a  neighboring  house  with 
a  large  porringer  of  hot  water-gruel,  sprinkled  with  pepper, 
crumbed  with  bread,  and  a  bit  of  butter  in  it,  for  the  price  of 
a  pint  of  beer,  viz.,  three  half -pence.  This  was  a  more  com 
fortable  as  well  as  cheaper  breakfast,  and  kept  their  heads 
clearer.  Those  who  continued  sotting  with  beer  all  day,  were 
often,  by  not  paying,  out  of  credit  at  the  alehouse,  and  used 
to  make  interest  with  me  to  get  beer ;  their  light,  as  they 
phrased  it,  being  out.  I  watched  the  pay-table  on  Saturday 
night,  and  collected  what  I  stood  engaged  for  them,  having 
to  pay  sometimes  near  thirty  shillings  a  week  on  their  ac 
counts.  This,  and  my  being  esteemed  a  pretty  good  riggite, 
that  is,  a  jocular  verbal  satirist,  supported  my  consequence 
in  the  society.  My  constant  attendance  (I  never  making  a 
St.  Monday)1  recommended  me  to  the  master ;  and  my 
uncommon  quickness  at  composing  occasioned  my  being  put 
upon  all  work  of  dispatch,  which  was  generally  better  paid. 
So  I  went  on  now  very  agreeably. 

My  lodging  in  Little  Britain  being  too  remote,  I  found 
another  in  Duke  Street,  opposite  to  the  Romish  Chapel.  It 
was  two  pair  of  stairs  backwards,  at  an  Italian  warehouse. 
A  widow  lady  kept  the  house ;  she  had  a  daughter,  and  a 
maid  servant,  and  a  journeyman  who  attended  the  warehouse, 
but  lodged  abroad.  After  sending  to  inquire  my  character  at 
the  house  where  I  last  lodged,  she  agreed  to  take  me  in  at  the 
same  rate,  3s.  6d.  per  week  ;  cheaper,  as  she  said,  from  the 
protection  she  expected  in  having  a  man  lodge  in  the  house. 
She  was  a  widow,  an  elderly  woman  ;  had  been  bred  a  Protes 
tant,  being  a  clergyman's  daughter,  but  was  converted  to  the 
Catholic  religion  by  her  husband,  whose  memory  she  much 
revered ;  had  lived  much  among  people  of  distinction,  and 
knew  a  thousand  anecdotes  of  them  as  far  back  as  the  time  of 
Charles  the  Second.  She  was  lame  in  her  knees  with  the  gout, 


I.  Making  a  holiday  of  Monday.    Workmen  who  squandered  the  Satur 
day-night's  pay  in  dissipation  would  be  unfit  for  work  Monday. 


52  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

and,  therefore,  seldom  stirred  out  of  her  room,  so  sometimes 
wanted  company  ;  and  hers  was  so  highly  amusing  to  me,  that 
I  was  sure  to  spend  an  evening  with  her  whenever  she  desired 
it.  Our  supper  was  only  half  an  anchovy  each,  on  a  very 
little  strip  of  bread  and  butter,  arid  half  a  pint  of  ale  between 
us ;  but  the  entertainment  was  in  her  conversation.  My 
always  keeping  good  hours,  and  giving  little  trouble  in  the 
family,  made  her  unwilling  to  part  with  me  ;  so  that,  when  J 
talked  of  a  lodging  I  had  heard  of,  nearer  my  business,  foi 
two  shillings  a  week,  which,  intent  as  I  now  was  on  saving 
money,  made  some  difference,  she  bid  me  not  think  of  it,  for 
she  would  abate  me  two  shillings  a  week  for  the  future ;  so  I 
remained  with  her  at  one  shilling  and  sixpence  as  long  as  I 
stayed  in  London. 

In  a  garret  of  her  house  there  lived  a  maiden  lady  of  seventy 
in  the  most  retired  manner,  of  whom  my  landlady  gave  me 
this  account :  that  she  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  had  been  sent 
abroad  when  young,  and  lodged  in  a  nunnery  with  an  intent 
of  becoming  a  nun  ;  but,  the  country  not  agreeing  with  her, 
she  returned  to  England,  where,  there  being  no  nunnery,  she 
had  vowed  to  lead  the  life  of  a  nun,  as  near  as  might  be  done 
in  those  circumstances.  Accordingly,  she  had  given  all  her 
estate  to  charitable  uses,  reserving  only  twelve  pounds  a  year 
to  live  on,  and  out  of  this  sum  she  still  gave  a  great  deal  in 
charity,  living  herself  on  water- gruel  only,  and  using  no  fire 
but  to  boil  it.  She  had  lived  many  years  in  that  garret,  being 
permitted  to  remain  there  gratis  by  successive  Catholic  tenants 
of  the  house  below,  as  they  deemed  it  a  blessing  to  have  her 
there.  A  priest  visited  her  to  confess  her  every  day.  "I 
have  asked  her,"  says  my  landlady,  "how  she,  as  she  lived, 
could  possibly  find  so  much  employment  for  a  confessor." 
"Oh,"  said  she,  "  it  is  impossible  to  avoid  vain  thoughts.'1''  I 
was  permitted  once  to  visit  her.  She  was  cheerful  and  polite, 
and  conversed  pleasantly.  The  room  was  clean,  but  had  no 
other  furniture  than  a  mattress,  a  table  with  a  crucifix  and 
book,  a  stool  which  she  gave  me  to  sit  on,  and  a  picture  over 
the  chimney  of  Saint  Veronica  displaying  her  handkerchief, 


BEXJAMIX    FRAXKLIX,  53 

with  the  miraculous  figure  of  Christ's  bleeding  face  on  it,1 
which  she  explained  to  me  with  great  seriousness.  She  looked 
pale,  but  was  never  sick  ;  and  I  give  it  as  another  instance  on 
how  small  an  income  life  and  health  may  be  supported. 

At  Watts's  printing-house  I  contracted  an  acquaintance  with 
an  ingenious  young  man,  one  Wygate,  who,  having  wealthy 
relations,  had  been  better  educated  .than  -most  printers  ;  was 
a  tolerable  Latinist,  spoke  French,  and  loved  reading.  I 
taught  him  and  a  friend  of  his  to  swim  at  twice  going  into  the 
river,  and  they  soon  became  good  swimmers.  They  intro 
duced  me  to  some  gentlemen  from  the  country,  who  went  to 
Chelsea  by  water  to  see  the  College  and  Don  Saltero's  curiosi 
ties.  In  our  return,  at  the  request  of  the  company,  whose 
curiosity  Wygate  had  excited,  I  stripped  and  leaped  into  the 
river,  and  swam  from  near  Chelsea  to  Blackfriar's,  perform 
ing  on  the  way  many  feats  of  activity,  both  upon  and  under 
the  water,  that  surprised  and  pleased  those  to  whom  they 
were  novelties. 

fl  had  from  a  child  been  ever  delighted  with  this  exercise, 
had  studied  and  practiced  all  Thevenot's  motions  and  posi 
tions,  added  some  of  my  own,  aiming  at  the  graceful  and  easy 
as  well  as  the  useful.  All  these  I  took  this  occasion  of  ex 
hibiting  to  the  company,  and  was  much  flattered  by  their 
admiration  ;  and  Wygate,  who  was  desirous  of  becoming  a 
master,  grew  more  and  more  attached  to  me  on  that  account, 
as  well  as  from  the  similarity  of  our  studies.  He  at  length 
proposed  to  me  traveling  all  over  Europe  together,  support 
ing  ourselves  everywhere  by  working  at  our  business.  I  was 
once  inclined  to  it ;  but,  mentioning  it  to  my  good  friend,  Mr. 
Denham,  with  whom  I  often  spent  an  hour  when  I  had  leisure, 
he  dissuaded  me  from  it,  advising  me  to  think  only  of  return 
ing  to  Pennsylvania,  which  he  was  now  about  to  do. 

I  must  record  one  trait  of  this  good  man's  character.    He 


1.  According  to  the  legend.  Veronica  met  Christ  while  bearing  tlie  cross 
to  Calvary;  as  He  was  sinking  overpowered  by  fatigue,  she  offered  Him  her 
veil  or  kerchief  to  wipe  the  sweat  from  His  brow,  and  when  it  was  returned 
to  her  the  divine  features  were  miraculously  impressed  upon  the  cloth. 


54  BENJAMIN"    FRANKLIN. 

had  formerly  been  in  business  at  Bristol,  but  failed  in  debt  to 
a  number  of  people,  compounded  and  went  to  America. 
There,  by  a  close  application  to  business  as  a  merchant,  he 
acquired  a  plentiful  fortune  in  a  few  years.  Returning  to 
England  in  the  ship  with  me,  he  invited  his  old  creditors  to 
an  entertainment,  at  which  he  thanked  them  for  the  easy 
composition  they  had  favored  him  with,  and,  when  they  ex 
pected  nothing  but  the  treat,  every  man  at  the  first  remove 
found  under  his  plate  an  order  on  a  banker  for  the  full 
amount  of  the  unpaid  remainder,  with  interest. 

He  now  told  me  he  was  about  to  return  to  Philadelphia, 
and  should  carry  over  a  great  quantity  of  goods,  in  order  to 
open  a  store  there.  He  proposed  to  take  me  over  as  his  clerk, 
to  keep  his  books,  in  which  he  would  instruct  me,  copy  his  let 
ters,  and  attend  the  store.  He  added,  that,  as  soon  as  1 
should  be  acquainted  with  mercantile  business,  he  would  pro 
mote  me  by  sending  me  with  a  cargo  of  flour  and  bread,  etc., 
to  the  West  Indies,  and  procure  me  commissions  from  others 
which  would  be  profitable  ;  and,  if  I  managed  well,  would 
establish  me  handsomely.  The  thing  pleased  me  ;  for  I  was 
grown  tired  of  London,  remembered  with  pleasure  the  happy 
months  I  had  spent  in  Pennsylvania,  and  wished  again  to  see 
it  ;  therefore  I  immediately  agreed  on  the  terms  of  fifty 
pounds  a  year,  Pennsylvania  money ;  less,  indeed,  than  my 
present  gettings  as  a  compositor,  but  affording  a  better  pros 
pect. 

I  now  took  leave  of  printing,  as  I  thought,  for  ever,  and 
was  daily  employed  in  my  new  business,  going  about  with  Mr. 
Denham  among  the  tradesmen  to  purchase  various  articles, 
and  seeing  them  packed  up,  doing  errands,  calling  upon  work 
men  to  dispatch,  etc.;  and,  when  all  was  on  board,  I  had  a 
few  days'  leisure.  On  one  of  these  days,  I  was,  to  my  surprise, 
sent  for  by  a  great  man  I  knew  only  by  name,  a  Sir  William 
Wyndham,  and  I  waited  upon  him.  He  had  heard  by  some 
means  or  other  of  my  swimming  from  Chelsea  to  Blackfriar's, 
and  of  my  teaching  "Wygate  and  another  young  man  to  swim 
in  a  few  hours.  He  had  two  sons,  about  to  set  out  on 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  55 

their  travels  ;  he  wished  to  have  them  first  taught  swimming, 
and  proposed  to  gratify  me  handsomely  if  I  would  teach 
them.  They  were  not  yet  come  to  town,  and  my  stay  was 
uncertain,  so  I  could  not  undertake  it ;  but  from  this  incident 
I  thought  it  likely  that,  if  I  were  to  remain  in  England  and 
open  a  swimming- school,  I  might  get  a  good  deal  of  money  ; 
and  it  struck  me  so  strongly,  that,  had  the  overture  been 
sooner  made  me,  probably  I  should  not  so  soon  have  returned 
to  America.  After  many  years,  you  and  I  had  something  of 
more  importance  to  do  with  one  of  these  sons  of  Sir  William 
Wyndham,  become  Earl  of  Egremont,  which  I  shall  mention 
in  its  place. 

Thus  I  spent  about  eighteen  months  in  London  ;  most  part 
of  the  time  T  worked  hard  at  my  business,  and  spent  but  little 
upon  myself  except  in  seeing  plays  and  in  books.  My  friend 
Ralph  had  kept  me  poor ;  he  owed  me  about  twenty-seven 
pounds,  which  I  was  now  never  likely  to  receive  ;  a  great  sum 
out  of  my  small  earnings  !  I  loved  him,  notwithstanding,  for 
he  had  many  amiable  qualities.  I  had  by  no  means  improved 
my  fortune  ;  but  I  had  picked  up  some  very  ingenious  ac 
quaintances,  whose  conversation  was  of  great  advantage  to  me; 
and  I  had  read  considerably. 

"^fe"  sailed  from  Graveseud  on  the  23d  of  July,  1726.  For 
the  incidents  of  the  voyage,  I  refer  you  to  my  journal,  wThere 
you  will  find  them  all  minutely  related.  Perhaps  the  most 
important  part  of  that  journal  is  the  plan  to  be  found  in  it, 
which  I  formed  at  sea,  for  regulating  my  future  conduct  in 
life.  It  is  the  more  remarkable,  as  being  formed  when  I  was 
so  young,  and  yet  being  pretty  faithfully  adhered  to  quite 
through  to  old  age. 

We  landed  in  Philadelphia  on  the  llth  of  October,  where  I 
found  sundry  alterations.  Keith  was  no  longer  governor, 
being  superseded  by  Major  Gordon.  I  met  him  walking  the 
streets  as  a  common  citizen.  He  seemed  a  little  ashamed  at 
seeing  me,  but  passed  without  saying  anything.  I  should 
have  been  as  much  ashamed  at  seeing  Miss  Read,  had  not  her 
friends,  despairing  with  reason  of  my  return  after  the  receipt 


56  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

of  my  letter,  persuaded  her  to  marry  another,  one  Rogers,  a 
potter,  which  was  done  in  my  absence.  With  him,  however, 
she  was  never  happy,  and  soon  parted  from  him,  refusing  to 
live  with  him  or  bear  his  name,  it  being  now  said  that  he 
had  another  wife.  He  was  a  worthless  fellow,  though  an 
excellent  workman,  which  was  the  temptation  to  her  friends. 
He  got  into  debt,  ran  away  in  1727  or  1728,  went  to  the  West 
Indies,  and  died  there.  Keimer  had  got  a  better  house,  a 
shop  well  supplied  with  stationery,  plenty  of  new  types,  a 
number  of  hands,  though  none  good,  and  seemed  to  have  a 
great  deal  of  business. 

Mr.  Denham  took  a  store  in  Water  Street,  where  we  opened 
our  goods ;  I  attended  the  business  diligently,  studied  ac 
counts,  and  grew,  in  a  little  time,  expert  at  selling.  We 
lodged  and  boarded  together  ;  he  counseled  me  as  a  father, 
having  a  sincere  regard  for  me.  I  respected  and  loved  him, 
and  we  might  have  gone  on  together  very  happy  ;  but  in  the 
beginning  of  February,  172f,  when  I  had  just  passed  my 
twenty-first  year,  we  were  both  taken  ill.  My  distemper  was 
a  pleurisy,  which  very  nearly  carried  me  off.  I  suffered  a 
good  deal,  gave  up  the  point  in  my  own  mind,  and  was  rather 
disappointed  when  I  found  myself  recovering,  regretting,  in 
some  degree,  that  I  must  now,  some  time,  or  other,  have  all 
that  disagreeable  work  to  do  over  again.  I  forget  what  his 
distemper  was ;  it  held  him  a  long  time,  and  at  length  car 
ried  him  off.  He  left  me  a  small  legacy  in  a  nuncupative 
will,  as  a  token  of  his  kindness  for  me,  and  he  left  me  once 
more  to  the  wide  world  ;  for  the  store  was  taken  into  the  care 
of  his  executors,  and  my  employment  under  him  ended. 

My  brother-in-law,  Holmes,  being  now  at  Philadelphia,  ad 
vised  my  return  to  my  business;  and  Keimer  tempted  me,  with 
an  offer  of  large  wages  by  the  year,  to  come  and  take  the  man 
agement  of  his  printing-house,  that  he  might  better  attend 
his  stationer's  shop.  I  had  heard  a  bad  character  of  him  in 
London  from  his  wife  and  her  friends,  and  was  not  fond  of 
having  any  more  to  do  with  him.  I  tried  for  farther  employ 
ment  as  a  merchant's  clerk;  but,  not  readily  meeting  with 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN".  57 

any,  I  closed  again  with  Keimer.  I  found  in  his  house  these 
hands:  Hugh  Meredith,  a  Welsh  Pennsylvania!!,  thirty  years  of 
age,  bred  to  country  work;  honest,  sensible,  had  a  great  deal 
of  solid  observation,  was  something  of  a  reader,  but  given  to 
drink.  Stephen  Potts,  a  young  countryman  of  full  age,  bred 
to  the  same,  of  uncommon  natural  parts,  and  great  wit  and 
humor,  but  a  little  idle.  These  he  had  agreed  with  at  extreme 
low  wages  per  week,  to  be  raised  a  shilling  every  three  months, 
as  they  would  deserve  by  improving  in  their  business;  and  the 
expectation  of  these  high  wages,  to  come  on  hereafter,  was 
what  he  had  drawn  them  in  with.  Meredith  was  to  work  at 
press,  Potts  at  bookbinding,  which  he,  by  agreement,  was  to 
teach  them,  though  he  knew  neither  one  nor  t'other.  John 
,  a  wild  Irishman,  brought  up  to  no  business,  whose  ser 
vice,  for  four  years,  Keimer  had  purchased  from  the  captain 
of  a  ship;  he,  too,  was  to  be  made  a  pressman.  George  Webb, 
an  Oxford  scholar,  whose  time  for  four  years  he  had  likewise 
bought,  intending  him  for  a  compositor,  of  whom  more  pres 
ently;  and  David  Harry,  a  country  boy,  whom  he  had  taken 
apprentice. 

I  soon  perceived  that  the  intention  of  engaging  me  at  wages 
so  much  higher  than  he  had  been  used  to  give  was,  to  have 
these  raw,  cheap  hands  formed  through  me;  and,  as  soon  as 
I  had  instructed  them,  then  they  being  all  articled  to  him,  he 
should  be  able  to  do  without  me.  I  went  on,  however,  very 
cheerfully,  put  his  printing-house  in  order,  which  had  been  in 
great  confusion,  and  brought  his  hands  by  degrees  to  mind 
their  business  and  to  do  it  better. 

It  was  an  odd  thing  to  find  an  Oxford  scholar  in  the  situ 
ation  of  a  bought  servant.  He  was  not  more  than  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  gave  me  this  account  of  himself;  that  he  was 
born  in  Gloucester,  educated  at  a  grammar-school  there,  had 
been  distinguished  among  the  scholars  for  some  apparent  su 
periority  in  performing  his  part,  when  they  exhibited  plays; 
belonged  to  the  Witty  Club  there,  and  had  written  some 
pieces  in  prose  and  verse,  which  were  printed  in  the  Gloucester 
newspapers;  thence  he  was  sent  to  Oxford;  where  he  con- 


58  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN". 

tinued  about  a  year,  but  not  well  satisfied,  wishing  of  all  things 
to  see  London,  and  become  a  player.  At  length,  receiving 
his  quarterly  allowance  of  fifteen  guineas,  instead  of  discharg 
ing  his  debts  he  walked  out  of  town,  hid  his  gown  in  a  furze 
bush,  and  footed  it  to  London,  where,  having  no  friends  to 
advise  him,  he  fell  into  bad  company,  soon  spent  his  guineas, 
found  no  means  of  being  introduced  among  the  players,  grew 
necessitous,  pawned  his  clothes,  and  wanted  bread.  Walking 
the  street  very  hungry,  and  not  knowing  what  to  do  with  him 
self,  a  crimp's  bill  was  put  into  his  hand,  offering  immediate 
entertainment  and  encouragement  to  such  as  would  bind  them 
selves  to  serve  in  America.  He  went  directly,  signed  the 
indentures,  was  put  into  the  ship,  and  came  over,  never  writ 
ing  a  line  to  acquaint  his  friends  what  was  become  of  him. 
He  was  lively,  witty,  good-natured,  and  a  pleasant  companion, 
but  idle,  thoughtless,  and  imprudent  to  the  last  degree. 

John,  the  Irishman,  soon  ran  away;  with  the  rest  I  began  to 
live  very  agreeably,  for  they  all  respected  me  the  more,  as  they 
found  Keimer  incapable  of  instructing  them,  and  that  from 
me  they  learned  something  daily.  We  never  worked  on  Satur 
day,  that  being  Keimer's  Sabbath,  so  I  had  two  days  for  read 
ing.  My  acquaintance  with  ingenious  people  in  the  town  in 
creased.  Keimer  himself  treated  me  with  great  civility  and 
apparent  regard,  and  nothing  now  made  me  uneasy  but  my 
debt  to  Vernon,  which  1  was  yet  unable  to  pay,  being  hither 
to  but  a  poor  economist.  He,  however,  kindly  made  no 
demand  of  it. 

Our  printing-house  often  wanted  sorts,  and  there  was  no 
letter- founder  in  America;  I  had  seen  types  cast  at  James's  in 
London,  but  without  much  attention  to  the  manner;  however, 
I  now  contrived  a  mold,  made  use  of  the  letters  we  had  as 
puncheons,  struck  the  matrices  in  lead,  and  thus  supplied  in 
a  pretty  tolerable  way  all  deficiencies.  I  also  engraved  several 
things  on  occasion;  I  made  the  ink;  I  was  warehouseman, 
and  everything,  and,  in  short,  quite  a  factotum. 

But,  however  serviceable  I  might  be,  I  found  that  my  ser 
vices  became  every  day.  of  less  importance,  as  the  other  hands 


BENJAMIN    FRAXKLIX.  59 

improved  in  the  business;  and,  when  Keimer  paid  my  second 
quarter's  wages,  he  let  me  know  that  he  felt  them  too  heavy, 
and  thought  I  should  make  an  abatement.  He  grew  by  degrees 
less  civil,  put  on  more  of  the  master,  frequently  found  fault, 
was  captious,  and  seemed  ready  for  an  outbreaking.  I  went 
on,  nevertheless,  with  a  good  deal  of  patience,  thinking  that 
his  encumbered  circumstances  were  partly  the  cause.  At 
length  a  trifle  snapped  our  connections;  for,  a  great  noise  hap 
pening  near  the  court-house,  I  put  my  head  out  of  the  window 
to  see  what  was  the  matter.  Keimer,  being  in  the  street,  looked 
up  and  saw  me,  called  out  to  me  in  a  loud  voice  and  angry 
tone  to  mind  my  business,  adding  some  reproachful  words, 
that  nettled  me  the  more  for  their  publicity,  all  the  neighbors 
who  were  looking  out  on  the  same  occasion  being  witnesses 
how  I  was  treated.  He  came  up  immediately  into  the  print 
ing-house,  continued  the  quarrel,  high  words  passed  on  both 
sides,  he  gave  me  the  quarter's  warning  we  had  stipulated, 
expressing  a  wish  that  he  had  not  been  obliged  to  so  long  a 
warning.  I  told  him  that  his  wish  was  unnecessary,  for  I 
would  leave  him  that  instant;  and  so,  taking  my  hat,  walked 
out  of  doors,  desiring  Meredith,  whom  I  saw  below,  to  take 
care  of  some  things  I  left,  and  bring  them  to  my  lodgings. 

Meredith  came  accordingly  in  the  evening,  when  we  talked 
my  affair  over.  He  had  conceived  a  great  regard  for  me,  and 
was  very  unwilling  that  I  should  leave  the  house  while  he  re 
mained  in  it.  He  dissuaded  me  from  returning  to  my  native 
country,  which  I  began  to  think  of ;  he  reminded  me  that 
Keimer  was  in  debt  for  all  he  possessed ;  that  his  creditors 
began  to  be  uneasy  ;  that  he  kept  his  shop  miserably,  sold 
often  without  profit  for  ready  money,  and  often  trusted  with 
out  keeping  accounts  ;  that  he  must  therefore  fail,  which 
would  make  a  vacancy  I  might  profit  of.  I  objected  my  want 
of  money.  He  then  let  me  know  that  his  father  had  a  high 
opinion  of  me,  and  from  some  discourse  that  had  passed  be 
tween  them,  he  was  sure  would  advance  money  to  set  us  up, 
if  1  would  enter  into  partnership  with  him.  "My  time,"  says 
he,  "  will  be  out  with  Keimer  in  the  spring  ;  by  that  time  we 


60  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

may  have  our  press  and  types  in  from  London.  I  am  sensible 
I  am  no  workman  ;  if  you  like  it,  your  skill  in  the  business 
shall  be  set  against  the  stock  I  furnish,  and  we  will  share  the 
profits  equally." 

The  proposal  was  agreeable,  and  I  consented ;  his  father 
was  in  town  and  approved  of  it ;  the  more  as  he  saw  I  had 
great  influence  with  his  son,  had  prevailed  on  him  to  abstain 
long  from  dram-drinking,  and  he  hoped  might  break  him  of 
that  wretched  habit  entirely,  when  we  came  to  be  so  closely 
connected.  I  gave  an  inventory  to  the  father,  who  carried  it 
to  a  merchant ;  the  things  were  sent  for,  the  secret  was  to  be 
kept  till  they  should  arrive,  and  in  the  mean  time  I  was  to  get 
work,  if  I  could,  at  the  other  printing-house.  But  I  found  no 
vacancy  there,  and  so  remained  idle  a  few  days,  when  Keimer, 
on  a  prospect  of  being  employed  to  print  some  paper  money 
in  New  Jersey,  which  would  require  cuts  and  various  types 
that  I  only  could  supply,  and  apprehending  Bradford  might 
engage  me  and  get  the  job  from  him,  sent  me  a  very  civil  mes 
sage,  that  old  friends  should  not  part  for  a  few  words,  the 
effect  of  sudden  passion,  and  wishing  me  to  return.  Meredith 
persuaded  me  to  comply,  as  it  would  give  more  opportunity 
for  his  improvement  under  my  daily  instructions  ;  so  I  re 
turned,  and  we  went  on  more  smoothly  than  for  some  time 
before.  The  New  Jersey  job  was  obtained,  I  contrived  a  cop 
per-plate  press  for  it,  the  first  that  had  been  seen  in  the  coun 
try  ;  I  cut  several  ornaments  and  checks  for  the  bills.  We 
went  together  to  Burlington,  where  I  executed  the  whole  to 
satisfaction;  and  he  received  so  large  a  sum  for  the  work  as  to 
be  enabled  thereby  to  keep  his  head  much  longer  above  water. 

At  Burlington  I  made  an  acquaintance  with  many  principal 
people  of  the  province.  Several  of  them  had  been  appointed 
by  the  Assembly  a  committee  to  attend  the  press,  and  take 
care  that  no  more  bills  were  printed  than  the  law  directed. 
They  were  therefore,  by  turns,  constantly  with  us,  and  gen 
erally  he  who  attended,  brought  with  him  a  friend  or  two  for 
company.  My  mind  having  been  much  more  improved  by 
reading  than  Keimer's,  I  suppose  it  was  for  that  reason  my 


BENJAMIN"  FRANKLIN".  61 

conversation  seemed  to  be  more  valued.  They  had  me  to 
their  houses,  introduced  me  to  their  friends,  and  showed  me 
much  civility  ;  while  he,  though  the  master,  was  a  little  neg 
lected.  In  truth,  he  was  an  odd  fish  ;  ignorant  of  common 
life,  fond  of  rudely  opposing  received  opinions,  slovenly  to 
extreme  dirtiness,  enthusiastic  in  some  points  of  religion,  and 
a  little  knavish  withal. 

"We  continued  there  near  three  months  ;  and  by  that  time  I 
could  reckon  among  my  acquired  friends,  Judge  Allen,  Samuel 
Bustill,  the  secretary  of  the  province,  Isaac  Pearson,  Joseph 
Cooper,  and  several  of  the  Smiths,  members  of  Assembly,  and 
Isaac  Decow,  the  surveyor-general.  The  latter  was  a  shrewd, 
sagacious  old  man,  who  told  me  that  he  began  for  himself, 
when  young,  by  wheeling  clay  for  the  brickmakers,  learned 
to  write  after  he  was  of  age,  carried  the  chain  for  surveyors, 
who  taught  him  surveying,  and  he  had  now  by  his  industry 
acquired  a  good  estate  ;  and  says  he,  "I  foresee  that  you  will 
soon  work  this  man  out  of  his  business,  and  make  a  fortune  in 
it  at  Philadelphia."  He  had  not  then  the  least  intimation  of 
my  intention  to  set  up  there  or  anywhere.  These  friends  were 
afterwards  of  great  use  to  me,  as  I  occasionally  was  to  some 
of  them.  They  all  continued  their  regard  for  me  as  long  as 
they  lived. 

Before  I  enter  upon  my  public  appearance  in  business,  it 
may  be  well  to  let  you  know  the  then  state  of  my  mind  with 
regard  to  my  principles  and  morals,  that  you  may  see  how  far 
those  influenced  the  future  events  of  my  life.  My  parents  had 
early  given  me  religious  impressions,  and  brought  me  through 
my  childhood  piously  in  the  Dissenting  way.  But  I  was 
scarce  fifteen,  when,  after  doubting  by  turns  of  several  points, 
as  I  found  them  disputed  in  the  different  books  I  read,  I  be 
gan  to  doubt  of  Revelation  itself.  Some  books  against  Deism 
fell  into  my  hands  ;  they  were  said  to  be  the  substance  of  ser 
mons  preached  at  Boyle's  Lectures.  It  happened  that  they 
wrought  an  effect  on  me  quite  contrary  to  what  was  intended 
by  them  ;  for  the  arguments  of  the  Deists,  which  were  quoted 
to  be  refuted,  appeared  to  me  much  stronger  than  the  refuta- 


62  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

tions  ;  in  short,  I  soon  became  a  thorough  Deist.  My  argu 
ments  perverted  some  others,  particularly  Collins  ^nd  Ralph  ; 
but,  each  of  them  having  afterwards  wronged  me  greatly 
without  the  least  compunction,  and  recollecting  Keith's  con 
duct  towards  me  (who  was  another  freethinker),  and  my  own 
towards  Vernon  and  Miss  Read,  which  at  times  gave  me  great 
trouble,  I  began  to  suspect  that  this  doctrine,  though  it  might 
be  true,  was  not  very  useful.  My  London  pamphlet,  which 
had  for  its  motto  these  lines  of  Dryden  : 

"  Whatever  is,  is  right.    Though  purblind  man 
Sefc^,  but  a  part  o'  the  chain,  the  nearest  link: 
His  eyes  not  canning  to  the  equal  beam, 
That  poises  all  above  ;" 

and  from  the  attributes  of  God,  His  infinite  wisdom,  goodness 
and  power,  concluded  that  nothing  could  possibly  be  wrong 
in  the  world,  and  that  vice  and  virtue  were  empty  distinctions, 
no  such  things  existing,  appeared  now  not  so  clever  a  per 
formance  as  I  once  thought  it;  and  I  doubted  whether  some 
error  had  not  insinuated  itself  unperceived  into  my  argument, 
so  as  to  infect  all  that  followed,  as  is  common  in  metaphysical 
reasonings. 

I  grew  convinced  that  truth,  sincerity,  and  integrity  in  deal 
ings  between  man  and  man  were  of  the  utmost  importance  to 
the  felicity  of  life;  and  I  formed  written  resolutions,  which 
still  remain  in  my  journal  book,  to  practice  them  ever  while  I 
lived.  Revelation  had  indeed  no  weight  with  me,  as  such; 
but  I  entertained  an  opinion  that,  though  certain  actions 
might  not  be  bad  because  they  were  forbidden  by  it,  or  good 
because  it  commanded  them,  yet  probably  those  actions  might 
be  forbidden  because  they  were  bad  for  us,  or  commanded  be 
cause  they  were  beneficial  to  us,  in  their  own  natures,  all  the 
circumstances  of  things  considered.  And  this  persuasion, 
with  the  kind  hand  of  Providence,  or  some  guardian  angel,  or 
accidental  favorable  circumstances  and  situations,  or  all  to 
gether,  preserved  me,  through  this  dangerous  time  of  youth, 
and  the  hazardous  situations  I  was  sometimes  in  among  stran 
gers,  remote  from  the  eye  and  advice  of  my  father,  without 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN".  63 

any  willful  gross  immorality  or  injustice,  that  might  have  been 
expected  from  my  want  of  religion.  I  say  willful,  because 
the  instances  I  have  mentioned  had  something  of  necessity  in 
them,  from  my  youth,  inexperience,  and  the  knavery  of  others. 
I  had  therefore  a  tolerable  character  to  begin  the  world  with; 
I  valued  it  properly,  and  determined  to  preserve  it. 

We  had  not  been  long  returned  to  Philadelphia  before  the 
new  types  arrived  from  London.  We  settled  with  Keimer, 
and  left  him  by  his  consent  before  he  heard  of  it.  We  found 
a  house  to  hire  near  the  market,  and  took  it.  To  lessen  the 
rent,  which  was  then  but  twenty-four  pounds  a  year,  though 
I  have  since  known  it  to  let  for  seventy,  we  took  in  Thomas 
Godfrey,  a  glazier,  and  his  family,  who  were  to  pay  a  con 
siderable  part  of  it  to  us,  and  we  to  board  with  them.  We 
had  scarce  opened  our  letters  and  put  our  press  in  order,  be 
fore  George  House,  an  acquaintance  of  mine,  brought  a  coun 
tryman  to  us,  whom  he  had  met  in  the  street  inquiring  for  a 
printer.  All  our  cash  was  now  expended  in  the  variety  of 
particulars  we  had  been  obliged  to  procure,  and  this  country 
man's  five  shillings,  being  our  first-fruits,  and  coming  so  sea 
sonably,  gave  me  more  pleasure  than  any  crown  I  have  since 
earned;  and  the  gratitude  I  felt  toward  House  has  made  me 
often  more  ready  than  perhaps  I  should  otherwise  have  been 
to  assist  young  beginners. 

There  are  croakers  in  every  country,  always  boding  its  ruin. 
Such  a  one  then  lived  in  Philadelphia;  a  person  of  note,  an 
elderly  man,  with  a  wise  look  and  a  very  grave  manner  of 
speaking;  his  name  was  Samuel  Mickle.  This  gentleman,  a 
stranger  to  me,  stopped  one  day  at  my  door,  and  asked  me  it 
I  was  the  young  man  who  had  lately  opened  a  new  printing- 
house.  Being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  said  he  was 
sorry  for  me,  because  it  was  an  expensive  undertaking,  and 
the  expense  would  be  lost:  for  Philadelphia  was  a  sinking 
place,  the  people  already  half  bankrupts,  or  near  being  so;  all 
appearances  to  the  contrary,  such  as  new  buildings  and  the 
rise  of  rents,  being  to  his  certain  knowledge  fallacious;  for 
they  were,  in  fact,  among  the  things  that  would  soon  ruin  us. 


64  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

And  he  gave  me  such  a  detail  of  misfortunes  now  existing,  or 
that  were  soon  to  exist,  that  he  left  me  half  melancholy.  Had 
I  known  him  before  I  engaged  in  this  business,  probably  I 
never  should  have  done  it.  This  man  continued  to  live  in 
this  decaying  place,  and  to  declaim  in  the  same  strain,  refus 
ing  for  many  years  to  buy  a  house  there,  because  all  was  going 
to  destruction;  and  at  last  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him 
give  five  times  as  much  for  one  as  he  might  have  bought  it 
for  when  he  first  began  his  croaking. 

I  should  have  mentioned  before,  that,  in  the  autumn  of  the 
preceding  year,  I  had  formed  most  of  my  ingenious  acquaint 
ance  into  a  club  of  mutual  improvement,  which  we  called  the 
JUNTO;  we  met  on  Friday  evenings.  The  rules  that  I  drew 
up  required  that  every  member,  in  his  turn,  should  produce 
one  or  more  queries  on  any  point  of  Morals,  Politics,  or  Natu 
ral  Philosophy,  to  be  discussed  by  the  company;  and  once  in 
three  months  produce  and  read  an  essay  of  his  own  writing, 
on  any  subject  he  pleased.  Our  debates  were  to  be  under  the 
direction  of  a  president,  and  to  be  conducted  in  the  sincere 
spirit  of  inquiry  after  truth,  without  fondness  for  dispute,  or 
desire  of  victory;  and,  to  prevent  warmth,  all  expressions  of 
positiveness  in  opinions,  or  direct  contradiction,  were,  after 
some  time,  made  contraband,  and  prohibited  under  small 
pecuniary  penalties. 

The  first  members  were  Joseph  Breintnal,  a  copier  of  deeds 
for  the  scriveners,  a  good-natured,  friendly,  middle-aged  man, 
a  great  lover  of  poetry,  reading  all  he  could  meet  with,  and 
writing  some  that  was  tolerable;  very  ingenious  in  many  little 
nicknackeries,  and  of  sensible  conversation. 

Thomas  Godfrey,  a  self-taught  mathematician,  great  in  his 
way,  and  afterward  inventor  of  what  is  now  called  Hadley's 
Quadrant.  'But  he  knew  little  out  of  his  way,  and  was  not  a 
pleasing  companion;  as,  like  most  great  mathematicians  I 
have  met  with,  he  expected  universal  precision  in  everything 
said,  or  was  forever  denying  or  distinguishing  upon  trifles,  to 
the  disturbance  of  all  conversation.  He  soon  left  us. 


BENJAMIN   FRA^KLItf.  65 


Nicholas  Scull,  a  surveyor,  afterward  surveyor-general,  who 
loved  books,  and  sometimes  made  a  few  verses. 

William  Parsons,  bred  a  shoemaker,  but  loving  reading,  had 
acquired  a  considerable  share  of  mathematics,  which  he  first 
studied  with  a  view  to  astrology,  that  he  afterwards  laughed 
at.  He  also  became  surveyor-general. 

William  Maugridge,  a  joiner,  a  most  exquisite  mechanic, 
and  a  solid,  sensible  man. 

Hugh  Meredith,  Stephen  Potts,  and  George  "Webb  I  have 
characterized  before. 

Robert  Grace,  a  young  gentleman  of  some  fortune,  generous, 
lively,  and  witty;  a  lover  of  punning  and  of  his  friends. 

And  William  Coleman,  then  a  merchant's  clerk,  about  my 
age,  who  had  the  coolest,  clearest  head,  the  best  heart,  and 
the  exactest  morals  of  almost  any  man  I  ever  met  with.  He 
became  afterwards  a  merchant  of  great  note,  and  one  of  our 
provincial  judges.  Our  friendship  continued  without  inter 
ruption  to  his  death,  upward  of  forty  years;  and  the  club  con 
tinued  almost  as  long,  and  was  the  best  school  of  philosophy, 
morality,  and  politics  that  then  existed  in  the  province;  for  our 
queries,  which  were  read  the  week  preceding  their  discussion, 
put  us  upon  reading  with  attention  upon  the  several  subjects, 
that  we  might  speak  more  to  the  purpose;  and  here,  too,  we 
acquired  better  habits  of  conversation,  everything  being 
studied  in  our  rules  which  might  prevent  our  disgusting  each 
other.  From  hence  the  long  continuance  of  the  club,  which  I 
shall  have  frequent  occasion  to  speak  further  of  hereafter. 

But  my  giving  this  account  of  it  here  is  to  show  something 
of  the  interest  I  had,  every  one  of  these  exerting  themselves 
in  recommending  business  to  us.  Breintnal  particularly  pro 
cured  us  from  the  Quakers  the  printing  forty  sheets  of  their 
history,  the  rest  being  to  be  done  by  Keimer  ;  and  upon  this 
we  worked  exceedingly  hard,  for  the  price  was  low.  It  was  a 
folio,  pro  patria  size,  in  pica,  with  long-primer  notes.  I  com 
posed  of  it  a  sheet  a  day,  and  Meredith  worked  it  off  at  press  ; 
it  was  often  eleven  at  night,  and  sometimes  later,  before  I 
had  finished  my  distribution  for  the  next  day's  work,  for  the 


66  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

little  jobs  sent  in  by  our  other  friends  now  and  then  put  us 
back.  But  so  determined  I  was  to  continue  doing  a  sheet  a 
day  of  the  folio,  that  one  night,  when,  having  imposed  my 
forms,  I  thought  my  day's  work  over,  one  of  them  by  accident 
was  broken,  and  two  pages  reduced  to  pi,  I  immediately  dis 
tributed  and  composed  it  over  again  before  I  went  to  bed  ;  and 
this  industry,  visible  to  our  neighbors,  began  to  give  us  char 
acter  and  credit ;  particularly,  I  was  told,  that  mention  being 
made  of  the  new  printing-office  at  the  merchants'  Every-night 
club,  the  general  opinion  was  that  it  must  fail,  there  being 
already  two  printers  in  the  place,  Keimer  and  Bradford  ;  but 
Dr.  Baird  (whom  you  and  I  saw  many  years  after  at  his  native 
place,  St.  Andrew's  in  Scotland)  gave  a  contrary  opinion : 
"  For  the  industry  of  that  Franklin,"  says  he,  "  is  superior  to 
anything  I  ever  saw  of  the  kind  ;  I  see  him  still  at  work 
when  I  go  home  from  club,  and  he  is  at  work  again  before  his 
neighbors  are  out  of  bed."  This  struck  the  rest,  and  we  soon 
after  had  offers  from  one  of  them  to  supply  us  with  station 
ery;  but  as  yet  we  did  not  choose  to  engage  in  shop  business. 

I  mention  this  industry  the  more  particularly  and  the  more 
freely,  though  it  seems  to  be  talking  in  my  own  praise,  that 
those  of  my  posterity,  who  shall  read  it,  may  know  the  use  of 
that  virtue,  when  they  see  its  effects  in  my  favor  throughout 
this  relation. 

George  Webb,  who  had  found  a  female  friend  that  lent  him 
wherewith  to  purchase  his  time  of  Keimer,  now  came  to  offer 
himself  as  a  journeyman  to  us.  We  could  not  then  employ 
him  ;  but  I  foolishly  let  him  know  as  a  secret  that  I  soon 
intended  to  begin  a  newspaper,  and  might  then  have  work  for 
him.  My  hopes  of  success,  as  I  told  him,  were  founded  on 
this,  that  the  then  only  newspaper,  printed  by  Bradford,  was 
a  paltry  thing,  wretchedly  managed,  no  way  entertaining,  and 
yet  was  profitable  to  him ;  I  therefore  thought  a  good  paper 
would  scarcely  fail  of  good  encouragement.  I  requested 
Webb  not  to  mention  it ;  but  he  told  it  to  Keimer,  who  im 
mediately,  to  be  beforehand  with  me,  published  proposals 
for  printing  one  himself,  on  which  Webb  was  to  be  employed. 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  67 

I  resented  this ;  and,  to  counteract  them,  as  I  could  not  yet 
begin  our  paper,  I  wrote  several  pieces  of  entertainment  for 
Bradford's  paper,  under  the  title  of  the  BUSY  BODY,  which 
Brcintnal  continued  some  months.  By  this  means  the  atten 
tion  of  the  public  was  fixed  on  that  paper,  and  Keimer's  pro 
posals,  which  were  burlesqued  and  ridiculed,  were  disregarded. 
He  began  his  paper,  however,  and,  after  carrying  it  on  three 
quarters  of  a  year,  with  at  most  only  ninety  subscribers,  he 
offered  it  to  me  for  a  trifle  ;  and  I,  having  been  ready  some 
time  to  go  on  with  it,  took  it  in  hand  directly  ;  and  it  proved 
in  a  few  years  extremely  profitable  to  me.1 

I  perceive  that  I  am  apt  to  speak  in  the  singular  number, 
though  our  partnership  still  continued ;  the  reason  may  be 
that,  in  fact,  the  whole  management  of  the  business  lay  upon 
me.  Meredith  was  no  compositor,  a  poor  pressman,  and  sel 
dom  sober.  My  friends  lamented  my  connection  with  him,  but 
I  was  to  make  the  best  of  it. 

Our  first  papers  made  a  quite  different  appearance  from  any 
before  in  the  province  ;  a  better  type,  and  better  printed  ;  but 
some  spirited  remarks  of  my  writing,  on  the  dispute  then  going 
on  between  Governor  Buniet  and  the  Massachusetts  Assembly, 
struck  the  principal  people,  occasioned  the  paper  and  the  man 
ager  of  it  to  be  much  talked  of,  and  in  a  few  weeks  brought 
them  all  to  be  our  subscribers. 

Their  example  was  followed  by  many,  and  our  number  went 
on  growing  continually.  This  was  one  of  the  first  good  effects 
of  my  having  learned  a  little  to  scribble  ;  another  was,  that  the 
leading  men,  seeing  a  newspaper  now  in  the  hands  of  one  who 
could  also  handle  a  pen,  thought  it  convenient  to  oblige  and 
encourage  me.  Bradford  still  printed  the  votes,  and  laws, 
and  other  public  business.  He  had  printed  an  address  of  the 
House  to  the  governor,  in  a  coarse,  blundering  manner ;  we 
reprinted  it  elegantly  and  correctly,  and  sent  one  to  every 


1.  The  name  of  this  paper  was  "The  Universal  Instructor  in  all  Arts  and 
Sciences  and  Pennsylvania  Gazette."  The  instruction  was  Driven  in  the 
form  of  reprinted  articles  from  Chambers'  Cyclopaedia.  Franklin  dropped 
this  feature  of  the  paper  and  with  it  the  corresponding  part  of  the  xitle. 


68  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

member.  They  were  sensible  of  the  difference :  it  strength 
ened  the  hands  of  our  friends  in  the  House,  and  they  voted  us 
their  printers  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Among  my  friends  in  the  House  I  must  not  forget  Mr. 
Hamilton,  before  mentioned,  who  was  then  returned  from 
England,  and  had  a  seat  in  it.  He  interested  himself  for  me 
strongly  in  that  instance,  as  he  did  in  many  others  afterward, 
continuing  his  patronage  till  his  death. 

Mr.  Vernon,  about  this  time,  put  me  in  mind  of  the  debt  I 
owed  him,  but  did  not  press  me.  I  wrote  him  an  ingenuous 
letter  of  acknowledgment,  craved  his  forbearance  a  little 
longer,  which  he  allowed  me,  and  as  soon  as  I  was  able,  I  paid 
the  principal  with  interest,  and  many  thanks ;  so  that  erratum 
was  in  some  degree  corrected. 

But  now  another  difficulty  came  upon  me  which.  I  had  never 
the  least  reason  to  expect.  Mr.  Meredith's  father,  who  was 
to  have  paid  for  our  printing-house,  according  to  the  expecta 
tions  given  me,  was  able  to  advance  only  one  hundred  pounds 
currency,  which  had  been  paid  ;  and  a  hundred  more  was  due 
to  the  merchant,  who  grew  impatient,  and  sued  us  all.  We 
gave  bail,  but  saw  that,  if  the  money  could  not  be  raised  in 
time,  the  suit  must  soon  come  to  a  judgment  and  execution, 
and  our  hopeful  prospects  must,  with  us,  be  ruined,  as  the 
press  and  letters  must  be  sold  for  payment,  perhaps  at  half 
price. 

In  this  distress  two  true  friends,  whose  kindness  I  have  never 
forgotten,  nor  ever  shall  forget  while  I  can  remember  anything, 
came  to  me  separately,  unknown  to  each  other,  and,  without 
any  application  from  me,  offering  each  of  them  to  advance 
me  all  the  money  that  should  be  necessary  to  enable  me  to 
take  the  whole  business  upon  myself,  if  that  should  be  prac 
ticable  ;  but  they  did  not  like  my  continuing  the  partnership 
with  Meredith,  who,  as  they  said,  was  often  seen  drunk  in  the 
streets,  and  playing  at  low  games  in  alehouses,  much  to  our 
discredit.  These  two  friends  were  William  Coleman  and 
Robert  Grace.  I  told  them  I  could  not  propose  a  separation 
while  any  prospect  remained  of  the  Merediths'  fulfilling  their 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN".  69 

part  of  our  agreement,  because  I  thought  myself  under  great 
obligations  to  them  for  what  they  had  done,  and  would  do  if 
they  could  ;  but,  if  they  finally  faile  1  in  their  performance, 
and  our  partnership  must  be  dissolved,  I  should  then  think 
myself  at  liberty  to  accept  the  assistance  of  my  friends. 

Thus  the  matter  rested  for  some  time,  when  I  said  to  my 
partner,  "Perhaps  your  father  is  dissatisfied  at  the  part  you 
have  undertaken  in  this  affair  of  ours,  and  is  unwilling  to  ad 
vance  for  you  and  me  what  he  would  for  you  alone.  If  that 
is  the  case,  tell  me,  and  I  will  resign  the  whole  to  you,  and  go 
about  my  business."  "  No,"  said  he,  "  my  father  has  really 
been  disappointed,  and  is  really  unable  ;  and  I  am  unwilling 
to  distress  him  farther.  I  see  this  is  a  business  I  am  not  fit 
for.  I  was  bred  a  farmer,  and  it  was  a  folly  in  me  to  come 
to  town,  and  put  myself,  at  thirty  years  of  age,  an  apprentice 
to  learn  a  new  trade.  Many  of  our  Welsh  people  are  going  to 
settle  in  North  Carolina,  where  land  is  cheap.  I  am  inclined 
to  go  with  them,  and  follow  my  old  employment.  You  may 
find  friends  to  assist  you.  If  you  will  take  the  debts  of  the 
company  upon  you  ;  return  to  my  father  the  hundred  pound  he 
has  advanced  ;  pay  my  little  personal  debts,  and  give  me  thirty 
pounds  and  a  new  saddle,  I  will  relinquish  the  partnership, 
and  leave  the  whole  in  your  hands."  I  agreed  to  this  pro 
posal  ;  it  was  drawn  up  in  writing,  signed,  and  sealed  imme 
diately.  I  gave  him  what  he  demanded,  and  he  went  soon 
after  to  Carolina,  from  whence  he  sent  me  next  year  two 
long  letters,  containing  the  best  account  that  had  been  given 
of  that  country,  the  climate,  the  soil,  husbandry,  etc.,  for  in 
those  matters  he  was  very  judicious.  I  printed  them  in  the 
papers,  and  they  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  public. 

As  soon  as  he  was  gone,  I  recurred  to  my  two  friends  ;  and 
because  I  would  not  give  an  unkind  preference  to  either,  I 
took  half  of  what  each  had  offered  and  I  wanted  of  one,  and 
half  of  the  other  ;  paid  off  the  company's  debts,  and  went  on 
with  the  business  in  my  own  name,  advertising  that  the  part 
nership  was  dissolved.  I  think  this  was  in  or  about  the  year 
1729. 


70  BENJAMIN   FEANKLIN-. 

About  this  time  there  was  a  cry  among  the  people  for  more 
paper  money,  only  fifteen  thousand  pounds  being  extant  in 
the  province,  and  that  soon  to  be  sunk.  The  wealthy  inhabi 
tants  opposed  any  addition,  being  against  all  paper  currency, 
from  an  apprehension  that  it  would  depreciate,  as  it  had  done 
in  New  England,  to  the  prejudice  of  all  creditors.  We  had 
discussed  this  point  in  our  Junto,  where  I  was  on  the  side  of 
an  addition,  being  persuaded  that  the  first  small  sum  struck 
in  1723  had  done  much  good  by  increasing  the  trade,  employ 
ment,  and  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  province,  since  I  now 
saw  all  the  old  houses  inhabited,  and  many  new  ones  building; 
whereas  I  remembered  well,  that  when  I  first  walked  about 
the  streets  of  Philadelphia,  eating  my  roll,  I  saw  most  of  the 
houses  in  Walnut  Street,  between  Second  and  Front  Streets, 
with  bills  on  their  doors,  "  To  be  let"  ;  and  many  likewise  in 
Chestnut  Street  and  other  streets,  which  made  me  then  think 
the  inhabitants  of  the  city  were  deserting  it  one  after  another. 

Our  debates  possessed  me  so  fully  of  the  subject,  that  I 
wrote  and  printed  an  anonymous  pamphlet  on  it,  entitled 
' '  The  Nature  and  Necessity  of  a  Paper  Currency. "  It  was 
well  received  by  the  common  people  in  general ;  but  the  rich 
men  disliked  it,  for  it  increased  and  strengthened  the  clamor 
for  more  money,  and  they  happening  to  have  no  writers 
among  them  that  were  able  to  answer  it,  their  opposition 
slackened,  and  the  point  was  carried  by  a  majority  in  the 
House.  My  friends  there,  who  conceived  I  had  been  of  some 
service,  thought  fit  to  reward  me  by  employing  me  in  printing 
the  money ;  a  very  profitable  job  and  a  great  help  to  me. 
This  was  another  advantage  gained  by  my  being  able  to  write. 

The  utility  of  this  currency  became  by  time  and  experience 
so  evident  as  never  afterwards  to  be  much  disputed  ;  so  that 
it  grew  soon  to  fifty-five  thousand  pounds,  and  in  1739  to 
eighty  thousand  pounds,  since  which  it  rose  during  war  to 
upwards  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  pounds,  trade, 
building,  and  inhabitants  all  the  while  increasing,  though  I 
now  think  there  are  limits  beyond  which  the  quantity  may  be 
hurtful. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  71 

I  socm  after  obtained,  through  my  friend  Hamilton,  the 
printing  of  the  Newcastle  paper  money,  another  profitable  job 
as  I  then  thought  it ;  small  things  appearing  great  to  those  in 
small  circumstances  ;  and  these,  to  me,  were  really  great  ad 
vantages,  as  they  were  great  encouragements.  He  procured 
for  me,  also,  the  printing  of  the  laws  and  votes  of  that  govern 
ment,  which  continued  in  my  hands  as  long  as  I  followed  the 
business. 

I  now  opened  a  little  stationer's  shop.  I  had  in  it  blanks  of 
all  sorts,  the  correctest  that  ever  appeared  among  us,  being 
assisted  in  that  by  my  friend  Breintnal.  I  had  also  paper, 
parchment,  chapmen's  books,  etc.  One  Whitemash,  a  com 
positor  I  had  known  in  London,  an  excellent  workman,  now 
came  to  me,  and  worked  with  me  constantly  and  diligently ; 
and  I  took  an  apprentice,  the  son  of  Aquila  Rose. 

I  began  now  gradually  to  pay  off  the  debt  I  was  under  for 
the  printing-house.  In  order  to  secure  my  credit  and  char 
acter  as  a  tradesman,  I  took  care  not  only  to  be  in  reality 
industrious  and  frugal,  but  to  avoid  all  appearances  to  the 
contrary.  I  dressed  plainly;  I  was  seen  at  no  places  of  idle 
diversion.  I  never  went  out  a  fishing  or  shooting;  a  book, 
indeed,  sometimes  debauched  me  from  my  work,  but  that  wyas 
seldom,  snug,  and  gave  no  scandal;  and  to  show  that  I  was 
not  above  my  business,  I  sometimes  brought  home  the  paper 
I  purchased  at  the  stores  through  the  streets  on  a  wheelbarrow. 
Thus  being  esteemed  an  industrious,  thriving  young  man,  and 
paying  duly  for  what  I  bought,  the  merchants  who  imported 
stationery  solicited  my  custom;  others  proposed  supplying  me 
with  books,  and  I  went  on  swimmingly.  In  the  mean  time, 
Keimer's  credit  and  business  declining  daily,  he  was  at  last 
forced  to  sell  his  printing-house  to  satisfy  his  creditors.  He 
went  to  Barbadoes,  and  there  lived  some  years  in  very  poor 
circumstances. 

His  apprentice,  David  Harry,  whom  I  had  instructed  while 
I  worked  with  him,  set  up  in  his  place  at  Philadelphia,  having 
bought  his  materials.  I  was  at  first  apprehensive  of  a  power 
ful  rival  in  Harry,  as  his  friends  were  very  able,  and  had  a 


72  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN". 

good  deal  of  interest.  I  therefore  proposed  a  partnership  to 
him,  which  he,  fortunately  for  me,  rejected  with  scorn.  He 
was  very  proud,  dressed  like  a  gentleman,  lived  expensively, 
took  much  diversion  and  pleasure  abroad,  ran  in  debt,  and 
neglected  his  business;  upon  which  all  business  left  him ;  and 
finding  nothing  to  do,  he  followed  Keimer  to  Barbadoes,  tak 
ing  the  printing-house  with  him.  There  this  apprentice  em 
ployed  his  former  master  as  a  journeyman;  they  quarreled 
often;  Harry  went  continually  behindhand,  and  at  length  was 
forced  to  sell  his  types  and  return  to  his  country  work  in  Penn 
sylvania.  The  person  that  bought  them  employed  Keimer  to 
use  them,  but  in  a  few  years  he  died. 

There  remained  now  no  competitor  with  me  at  Philadelphia 
but  the  old  one,  Bradford;  who  was  rich  and  easy,  did  a  little 
printing  now  and  then  by  straggling  hands,  but  was  not  very 
anxious  about  the  business.  However,  as  he  kept  the  post- 
office,  it  was  imagined  he  had  better  opportunities  of  obtain 
ing  news;  his  paper  was  thought  a  better  distributor  of  ad 
vertisements  than  mine,  and  therefore  had  many  more,  which 
was  a  profitable  thing  to  him,  and  a  disadvantage  to  me;  for, 
though  T  did  indeed  receive  and  send  papers  by  post,  yet  the 
public  opinion  was  otherwise,  for  what  I  did  send  was  by 
bribing  the  riders,  who  took  them  privately,  Bradford  being 
unkind  enough  to  forbid  it,  which  occasioned  some  resent 
ment  on  my  part;  and  I  thought  so  meanly  of  him  for  it,  that, 
when  I  afterward  came  into  his  situation,  I  took  care  never 
to  imitate  it. 

I  had  hitherto  continued  to  board  with  Godfrey,  who  lived 
in  part  of  my  house  with  his  wife  and  children,  and  had  one 
side  of  the  shop  for  his  glazier's  business,  though  he  worked 
little,  being  always  absorbed  in  his  mathematics.  Mrs.  God 
frey  projected  a  match  for  me  with  a  relation's  daughter,  took 
opportunities  of  bringing  us  often  together,  till  a  serious 
courtship  on  my  part  ensued,  the  girl  being  in  herself  very 
deserving.  The  old  folks  encouraged  me  by  continual  invita 
tions  to  supper,  and  by  leaving  us  together,  till  at  length  it 
was  time  to  explain.  Mrs.  Godfrey  managed  our  little  treaty. 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN.  73 

I  let  her  know  that  I  expected  as  much  money  with  their 
daughter  as  would  pay  off  my  remaining  debt  for  the  printing- 
house,  which  I  believe  was  not  then  above  a  hundred  pounds. 
She  brought  me  word  they  had  no  such  sum  to  spare  ;  I  said 
they  might  mortgage  their  house  in  the  loan-office.  The 
answer  to  this,  after  some  days,  was,  that  they  did  not  ap 
prove  the  match  ;  that,  on  inquiry  of  Bradford,  they  had 
been  informed  the  printing  business  was  not  a  profitable  one  ; 
the  types  would  soon  be  worn  out,  and  more  wanted  ;  that  S. 
Keimer  and  D.  Harry  had  failed  one  after  the  other,  and  I 
should  probably  soon  follow  them ;  and,  therefore,  I  was  for 
bidden  the  house,  and  the  daughter  shut  up. 

Whether  this  was  a  real  change  of  sentiment,  or  only  arti 
fice,  on  a  supposition  of  our  being  too  far  engaged  in  affection 
to  retract,  and  therefore  that  we  should  steal  a  marriage, 
which  would  leave  them  at  liberty  to  give  or  withhold  what 
they  pleased,  I  know  not ;  but  I  suspected  the  latter,  resented 
it,  and  went  no  more.  Mrs.  Godfrey  brought  me  afterward 
some  more  favorable  accounts  of  their  disposition,  and  would 
have  drawn  me  on  again  ;  but  I  declared  absolutely  my  reso 
lution  to  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  that  family.  This  was 
resented  by  the  Godfreys  ;  we  differed,  and  they  removed, 
leaving  me  the  whole  house,  and  I  resolved  to  take  no  more 
inmates. 

But  this  affair  having  turned  my  thoughts  to  marriage,  I 
looked  round  me  and  made  overtures  of  acquaintance  in  other 
places ;  but  soon  found  that,  the  business  of  a  printer  being 
generally  thought  a  poor  one,  I  was  not  to  expect  money  with 
a  wife,  unless  with  such  a  one  as  I  should  not  otherwise  think 
agreeable.  ...  A  friendly  correspondence  as  neighbors  and 
old  acquaintances  had  continued  between  me  and  Mrs.  Read's 
family,  who  all  had  a  regard  for  me  from  the  time  of  my  first 
lodging  in  their  house.  I  was  often  invited  there  and  con 
sulted  in  their  affairs,  wherein  I  sometimes  was  of  service.  I 
pitied  poor  Miss  Read's  unfortunate  situation,  who  was  gener 
ally  dejected,  seldom  cheerful,  and  avoided  company.  I  con 
sidered  my  giddiness  and  inconstancy  when  in  London  as  in  a 


74  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

great  degree  the  cause  of  her  unhappiness,  though  the  mother 
was  good  enough  to  think  the  fault  more  her  own  than  mine, 
as  she  had  prevented  our  marrying  before  I  went  thither,  and 
persuaded  the  other  match  in  my  absence.  Our  mutual  affec 
tion  was  revived,  but  there  were  now  great  objections  to  our 
union.  The  match  was  indeed  looked  upon  as  invalid,  a  pre 
ceding  wife  being  said  to  be  living  in  England  ;  but  this  could 
not  easily  be  proved,  because  of  the  distance ;  and,  though 
there  was  a  report  of  his  death,  it  was  not  certain.  Then, 
though  it  should  be  true,  he  had  left  many  debts,  which  his 
successor  might  be  called  upon  to  pay.  We  ventured,  how 
ever,  over  all  these  difficulties,  and  I  took  her  to  wife,  Sep 
tember  1st,  1730.  None  of  the  inconveniences  happened  that 
we  had  apprehended  ;  she  proved  a  good  and  faithful  help 
mate,  assisted  me  much  by  attending  shop  ;  we  throve  to 
gether,  and  have  ever  mutually  endeavored  to  make  each 
other  happy.1  Thus  I  corrected  that  great  erratum  as  well  as 
I  could. 

About  this  time,  our  club  meeting,  not  at  a  tavern,  but  in  a 
little  room  of  Mr.  Grace's,  set  apart  for  that  purpose,  a  prop 
osition  was  made  by  me,  that,  since  our  books  were  often 
referred  to  in  our  disquisitions  upon  the  queries,  it  might  be 
convenient  to  us  to  have  them  all  together  where  we  met,  that 
upon  occasion  they  might  be  consulted  ;  and  by  thus  clubbing 
our  books  to  a  common  library,  we  should,  while  we  liked  to 
keep  them  together,  have  each  of  us  the  advantage  of  using 
the  books  of  all  the  other  members,  which  would  be  nearly  as 
beneficial  as  if  each  owned  the  whole.  It  was  liked  and  agreed 
to,  and  we  filled  one  end  of  the  room  with  such  books  as  we 
could  best  spare.  The  number  was  not  so  great  as  we  ex 
pected  ;  and  though  they  had  been  of  great  use,  yet  some 
inconveniences  occurring  for  want  of  due  care  of  them,  the 
collection,  after  about  a  year,  was  separated,  and  each  took 
his  books  home  again. 

And  now  I  set  on  foot  my  first  project  of  a  public  nature, 

1.  Mrs.  Franklin  served  as  the  "  faithful  helpmate ""  over  forty  years.  She 
died  Dec.  19,  1774,  while  her  husband  was  in  London. 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  75 

that  for  a  subscription  library.  I  drew  up  the  proposals,  got 
them  put  into  form  by  our  great  scrivener,  Brockden,  and,  by 
the  help  of  my  friends  in  the  Junto,  procured  fifty  subscribers 
of  forty  shillings  each  to  begin  with,  and  ten  shillings  a  year 
for  fifty  years,  the  term  our  company  was  to  continue.  We 
afterwards  obtained  a  charter,  the  company  being  increased 
to  one  hundred  ;  this  was  the  mother  of  all  the  North  Ameri 
can  subscription  libraries,  now  so  numerous.  It  is  become  a 
great  thing  itself,  and  continually  increasing.  These  libraries 
have  improved  the  general  conversation  of  the  Americans, 
made  the  common  tradesmen  and  farmers  as  intelligent  as 
most  gentlemen  from  other  countries,  and  perhaps  have  con 
tributed  in  some  degree  to  the  stand  so  generally  made 
throughout  the  colonies  in  defense  of  their  privileges. 

Mem0.  Thus  far  was  written  with  the  intention  expressed 
in  the  beginning,  and  therefore  contains  several  little  family 
anecdotes  of  no  importance  to  others.  What  follows  was 
written  many  years  after  in  compliance  with  the  advice  con 
tained  in  these  letters,1  and  accordingly  intended  for  the  pub 
lic.  The  affairs  of  the  Revolution  occasioned  the  interrup 
tion. 

CONTINUATION  OF  THE  ACCOUNT  or  MY  LIFE,  BEGUN  AT 
PASSY,  NEAR  PARIS,  1784. 

It  is  some  time  since  I  received  the  above  letters,  but  I  have 
been  too  busy  till  now  to  think  of  complying  with  the  request 
they  contain.  It  might,  too,  be  much  better  done  if  I  were 
at  home  among  my  papers,  which  would  aid  my  memory,  and 
help  to  ascertain  dates ;  but  my  return  being  uncertain,  and 
having  just  now  a  little  leisure,  I  will  endeavor  to  recollect 
and  write  what  I  can ;  if  I  live  to  get  home,  it  may  there  be 
corrected  and  improved. 

Not  having  any  copy  here  of  what  is  already  written,  I 
know  not  whether  an  account  is  given  of  the  means  I  used 

1.  The  letters  from  two  friends,  urging  him  to  complete  the  Autobi 
ography,  are  omitted,  being  of  no  interest  in  themselves. 


7G  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

to  establish  the  Philadelphia  public  library,  which,  from  a 
small  beginning,  is  now  become  so  considerable,  though  I 
remember  to  have  come  down  to  near  the  time  of  that  trans 
action  (1730).  I  will  therefore  begin  here  with  an  account  of 
it,  which  may  be  struck  out  if  found  to  have  been  already 
given. 

At  the  time  I  established  myself  in  Pennsylvania,  there  was 
not  a  good  bookseller's  shop  in  any  of  the  colonies  to  the 
southward  of  Boston.  In  New  York  and  Philadelphia  the 
printers  were  indeed  stationers ;  they  sold  only  paper,  etc., 
almanacs,  ballads,  and  a  few  common  school-books.  Those 
who  loved  reading  were  obliged  to  send  for  their  books  from 
England ;  the  members  of  the  Junto  had  each  a  few.  We 
had  left  the  alehouse,  where  we  first  met,  and  hired  a  room  to 
hold  our  club  in.  I  proposed  that  we  should  all  of  us  bring 
our  books  to  that  room,  where  they  would  not  only  be  ready 
to  consult  in  our  conferences,  but  become  a  common  benefit, 
each  of  us  being  at  liberty  to  borrow7  such  as  he  wished  to 
read  at  home.  This  was  accordingly  done,  and  for  some  time 
contented  us. 

Finding  the  advantage  of  this  little  collection,  I  proposed 
to  render  the  benefit  from  books  more  common,  by  commenc 
ing  a  public  subscription  library.  I  drew  a  sketch  of  the 
plan  and  rules  that  wrould  be  necessary,  and  got  a  skillful  con 
veyancer,  Mr.  Charles  Brockden,  to  put  the  whole  in  form  of 
articles  of  agreement  to  be  subscribed,  by  wrhich  each  sub 
scriber  engaged  to  pay  a  certain  sum  down  for  the  first  pur 
chase  of  books,  and  an  annual  contribution  for  increasing 
them.  So  few  wrere  the  readers  at  that  time  in  Philadelphia, 
and  the  majority  of  us  so  poor,  that  I  was  not  able,  with  great 
industry,  to  find  more  than  fifty  persons,  mostly  young  trades 
men,  willing  to  pay  down  for  this  purpose  forty  shillings  each, 
and  ten  shillings  per  annum.  On  this  little  fund  we  began. 
The  books  were  imported  ;  the  library  wras  opened  one  day  in 
the  week  for  lending  to  the  subscribers,  on  their  promissory 
notes  to  pay  double  the  value  if  not  duly  returned.  The  in 
stitution  soon  manifested  its  utility,  wras  imitated  by  other 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  77 

towns,  and  in  other  provinces.  The  libraries  were  augmented 
by  donations ;  reading  became  fashionable ;  and  our  people, 
having  no  public  amusements  to  divert  their  attention  from 
study,  became  better  acquainted  with  books,  and  in  a  few 
years  were  observed  by  strangers  to  be  better  instructed  and 
more  intelligent  than  people  of  the  same  rank  generally  are  in 
other  countries. 

When  we  were  about  to  sign  the  above-mentioned  articles, 
which  were  to  be  binding  on  us,  our  heirs,  etc.,  for  fifty  years, 
Mr.  Brockden,  the  scrivener,  said  to  us:  "You  are  young 
men,  but  it  is  scarcely  probable  that  any  of  you  will  live  to 
see  the  expiration  of  the  term  fixed  in  the  instrument."  A 
number  of  us,  however,  are  yet  living;  but  the  instrument 
was  after  a  few  years  rendered  null  by  a  charter  that  incor 
porated  and  gave  perpetuity  to  the  company. 

The  objections  and  reluctances  I  met  with  in  soliciting  the 
subscriptions  made  me  soon  feel  the  impropriety  of  presenting 
one's  self  as  the  proposer  of  any  useful  project,  that  might  be 
supposed  to  raise  one's  reputation  in  the  smallest  degree 
above  that  of  one's  neighbors,  when  one  has  need  of  their 
assistance  to  accomplish  that  project.  I  therefore  put  myself 
as  much  as  I  could  out  of  sight,  and  stated  it  as  a  scheme  of 
a  number  of  friends,  who  had  requested  me  to  go  about  and 
propose  it  to  such  as  they  thought  lovers  of  reading.  In  this 
way  my  affair  went  on  more  smoothly,  and  I  ever  after  prac 
ticed  it  on  such  occasions;  and,  from  my  frequent  successes, 
can  heartily  recommend  it,  The  present  little  sacrifice  of 
your  vanity  will  afterwards  be  amply  repaid.  If  it  remains  a 
while  uncertain  to  whom  the  merit  belongs,  some  one  more 
vain  than  yourself  will  be  encouraged  to  claim  it,  and  then 
even  envy  will  be  disposed  to  do  you  justice  by  plucking  those 
assumed  feathers,  and  restoring  them  to  their  right  owner. 

This  library  afforded  me  the  means  of  improvement  by  con 
stant  study,  for  which  I  set  apart  an  hour  or  two  each  day, 
and  thus  repaired  in  some  degree  the  loss  of  the  learned 
education  my  father  once  intended  for  me.  Eeading  was  the 
only  amusement  I  allowed  myself.  I  spent  no  time  in  taverns, 


78  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

games,  or  frolics  of  any  kind;  and  my  industry  in  my  busi 
ness  continued  as  indefatigable  as  it  was  necessary.  I  was 
indebted  for  my  printing-house;  I  had  a  young  family  coming 
on  to  be  educated,  and  I  had  to  contend  with  for  business  two 
printers,  who  were  established  in  the  place  before  me.  My 
circumstances,  however,  grew  daily  easier.  My  original 
habits  of  frugality  continuing,  and  my  father  having,  among 
his  instructions  to  me  when  a  boy,  frequently  repeated  a 
proverb  of  Solomon,  ' '  Seest  thou  a  man  diligent  in  his  calling, 
he  shall  stand  before  kings,  he  shall  not  stand  before  mean 
men,"  I  from  thence  considered  industry  as  a  means  of 
obtaining  wealth  and  distinction,  which  encouraged  me, 
though  I  did  not  think  that  I  should  ever  literally  stand 
before  kings,  which,  however,  has  since  happened;  for  I  have 
stood  beforejfe,  and  even  had  the  honor  of  sitting  down  with 
one,  the  King  of  Denmark,  to  dinner. 

"We  have  an  English  proverb  that  says,  "He  that  would 
thrive  must  ask  his  wife"  It  was  lucky  for  me  that  I  had 
one  as  much  disposed  to  industry  and  frugality  as  myself. 
She  assisted  me  cheerfully  in  my  business,  folding  and  stitch 
ing  pamphlets,  tending  shop,  purchasing  old  linen  rags  for  the 
paper-makers,  etc.,  etc.  We  kept  no  idle  servants,  our  table 
was  plain  and  simple,  our  furniture  of  the  cheapest.  For 
instance,  my  breakfast  was  a  long  time  bread  and  milk  (no 
tea),  and  I  ate  it  out  of  a  two-penny  earthen  porringer,  with 
a  pewter  spoon.  But  mark  how  luxury  will  enter  families, 
and  make  a  progress,  in  spite  of  principle:  being  called  one 
morning  to  breakfast,  I  found  it  in  a.  China  bowl,  with  a 
spoon  of  silver!  They  had  been  bought  for  me  without  my 
knowledge  by  my  wife,  and  had  cost  her  the  enormous  sum  of 
three-and-twenty  shillings,  for  which  she  had  no  other  excuse 
or  apology  to  make,  but  that  she  thought  her  husband 
deserved  a  silver  spoon  and  China  bowl  as  well  as  any  of  his 
neighbors.  This  was  the  first  appearance  of  plate  and  China 
in  our  house,  which  afterward,  in  a  course  of  years,  as  our 
wealth  increased,  augmented  gradually  to  several  hundred 
pounds  in  value. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  79 

I  had  been  religiously  educated  as  a  Presbyterian;  and 
though  some  of  the  dogmas  of  that  persuasion,  such  as  the 
eternal  decrees  of  God,  election,  reprobation,  etc.,  appeared  to 
me  unintelligible,  others  doubtful,  and  I  early  absented 
myself  from  the  public  assemblies  of  the  sect,  Sunday  being 
my  studying  day,  I  never  was  without  some  religious  princi 
ples.  I  never  doubted,  for  instance,  the  existence  of  the 
Deity;  that  He  made  the  world,  and  governed  it  by  His  Provi 
dence;  that  the  most  acceptable  service  of  God  was  the  doing 
good  to  man;  that  our  souls  are  immortal;  and  that  all  crime 
will  be  punished,  and  virtue  rewarded,  either  here  or  here 
after.  These  I  esteemed  the  essentials  of  every  religion;  and, 
being  to  be  found  in  all  the  religions  we  had  in  our  country,  I 
respected  them  all,  though  with  different  degrees  of  respect, 
as  I  found  them  more  or  less  mixed  with  other  articles,  which, 
without  any  tendency  to  inspire,  "promote,  or  confirm  morality, 
served  principally  to  divide  us,  and  make  us  unfriendly  to  one 
another.  This  respect  to  all,  with  an  opinion  that  the  worst 
had  some  good  effects,  induced  me  to  avoid  all  discourse  that 
might  tend  to  lessen  the  good  opinion  another  might  have  of 
his  own  religion ;  and  as  our  province  increased  in  people,  and 
new  places  of  worship  were  continually  wanted,  and  generally 
erected  by  voluntary  contribution,  my  mite  for  such  purpose, 
whatever  might  be  the  sect,  was  never  refused. 

Though  I  seldom  attended  any  public  worship,  I  had  still 
an  opinion  of  its  propriety,  and  of  its  utility  when  rightly 
conducted,  and  I  regularly  paid  my  annual  subscription  for 
the  support  of  the  only  Presbyterian  minister  or  meeting  \ve 
had  in  Philadelphia.  He  used  to  visit  me  sometimes  as  a 
friend,  and  admonish  me  to  attend  his  administrations,  and  I 
was  now  and  then  prevailed  on  to  do  so,  once  for  five  Sundays 
successively.  Had  he  been  in  my  opinion  a  good  preacher, 
perhaps  I  might  have  continued,  notwithstanding  the  occasion 
I  had  for  the  Sunday's  leisure  in  my  course  of  study;  but  his 
discourses  were  chiefly  either  polemic  arguments,  or  explica 
tions  of  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  our  sect,  and  were  all  to  me 
very  dry,  uninteresting,  and  unedifying,  since  not  a  single 


80  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN 

moral  principle  was  inculcated  or  enforced,  their  aim  seeming 
to  be  rather  to  make  us  Presbyterians  than  good  citizens. 

At  length  he  took  for  his  text  that  verse  of  the  fourth 
chapter  of  Philippians :  ' '  Finally,  brethren,  whatsoever 
things  are  true,  honest,  just,  pure,  lovely,  or  of  good  report, 
if  there  be  any  virtue,  or  any  praise,  think  on  these  things." 
And  I  imagined,  in  a  sermon  on  such  a  text,  we  could  not  miss 
of  having  some  morality.  But  he  confined  himself  to  five 
points  only,  as  meant  by  the  apostle,  viz.:  1.  Keeping  holy 
the  Sabbath-day.  2.  Being  diligent  in  reading  the  holy 
Scriptures.  3.  Attending  duly  the  public  worship.  4.  Par 
taking  of  the  Sacrament.  5.  Paying  a  due  respect  to  God's 
ministers.  These  might  be  all  good  things;  but,  as  they  were 
not  the  kind  of  good  things  that  I  expected  from  that  text,  I 
despaired  of  ever  meeting  with  them  from  any  other,  was  dis 
gusted,  and  attended  his  preaching  no  more.  I  had  some 
years  before  composed  a  little  Liturgy,  or  form  of  prayer,  for 
my  own  private  use  (viz.,  in  1728),  entitled  "Articles  of 
Belief  and  Acts  of  Religion.1'  I  returned  to  the  use  of  this, 
and  went  no  more  to  the  public  assemblies.  My  conduct 
might  be  blamable,  but  I  leave  it,  without  attempting 
further  to  excuse  it;  my  present  purpose  being  to  relate  facts, 
and  not  to  make  apologies  for  them. 

It  was  about  this  time  I  conceived  the  bold  and  arduous 
project  of  arriving  at  moral  perfection.  I  wished  to  live 
without  committing  any  fault  at  any  time;  I  would  conquer 
all  that  either  natural  inclination,  custom,  or  company  might 
lead  me  into.  As  I  knew, "or  thought  I  knew,  what  was  right 
and  wrong,  I  did  not  see  why  I  might  not  always  do  the  one 
and  avoid  the  other.  But  I  soon  found  I  had  undertaken 
a  task  of  more  difficulty  than  I  had  imagined.  While  my 
care  was  employed  in  guarding  against  one  fault,  I  was  often 
surprised  by  another;  habit  took  the  advantage  of  inatten 
tion;  inclination  was  sometimes  too  strong  for  reason.  I 
concluded,  at  length,  that  the  mere  speculative  conviction 
that  it  was  our  interest  to  be  completely  virtuous,  was  not 
sufficient  to  prevent  our  slipping;  and  that  the  contrary 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  81 

habits  must  be  broken,  and  good  ones  acquired  and  estab 
lished,  before  we  can  have  any  dependence  on  a  steady, 
uniform  rectitude  of  conduct.  For  this  purpose  I  therefore 
contrived  the  following  method. 

In  the  various  enumerations  of  the  moral  virtues  I  had  met 
with  in  my  reading,  I  found  the  catalogue  more  or  less 
numerous,  as  different  writers  included  more  or  fewer  ideas 
under  the  same  name.  Temperance,  for  example,  was  by 
some  confined  to  eating  and  drinking,  while  by  others  it  was 
extended  to  mean  the  moderating  every  other  pleasure,  ap 
petite,  inclination,  or  passion,  bodily  or  mental,  even  to  our 
avarice  and  ambition.  I  proposed  to  myself,  for  the  sake  of 
clearness,  to  use  rather  more  names,  with  fewer  ideas  annexed 
to  each,  than  a  few  names  with  more  ideas ;  and  I  included 
under  thirteen  names  of  virtues  all  that  at  that  time  occurred 
to  me  as  necessary  or  desirable,  and  annexed  to  each  a  short 
precept,  which  fully  expressed  the  extent  I  gave  to  its  mean 
ing. 

These  names  of  virtues,  with  their  precepts,  were  : 

1.  TEMPERANCE. 
Eat  not  to  dullness  ;  drink  not  to  elevation. 

2.  SILENCE. 

Speak  not  but  what  may  benefit  others  or  yourself ;  avoid 
trifling  conversation. 

3.  ORDER. 

Let  all  your  things  have  their  places  ;  let  each  part  of  your 
business  have  its  time. 

4.  RESOLUTION. 

Resolve  to  perform  what  you  ought  j  perform  without  fail 
what  you  resolve. 

5.  FRUGALITY. 

Make  no  expense  but  to  do  good  to  others  or  yourself  ;  i.e., 
waste  nothing. 


82  BEMJAMIN   FRAKKLIK. 

6.  INDUSTRY. 

Lose  no  time ;  be  always  employed  in  something  useful ; 
cut  off  all  unnecessary  actions. 

7.  SINCERITY. 

Use  no  hurtful  deceit ;  think  innocently  and  justly  ;  and,  if 
you  speak,  speak  accordingly. 

8.  JUSTICE. 

Wrong  none  by  doing  injuries,  or  omitting  the  benefits  that 
are  your  duty. 

9.  MODERATION. 

Avoid  extremes  ;  forbear  resenting  injuries  so  much  as  you 
think  they  deserve. 

10.  CLEANLINESS. 

Tolerate  no  uncleanliness  in  body,  clothes,  or  habitation. 

11.  TRANQUILLITY. 

Be  not  disturbed  at  trifles,  or  at  accidents  common  or  un 
avoidable. 

12.  CHASTITY. 

13.  HUMILITY. 
Imitate  Jesus  and  Socrates. 

My  intention  being  to  acquire  the  habitude  of  all  these 
virtues,  I  judged  it  would  be  well  not  to  distract  my  attention 
by  attempting  the  whole  at  once,  but  to  fix  it  on  one  of  them 
at  a  time  ;  and,  when  I  should  be  master  of  that,  then  to 
proceed  to  another,  and  so  on,  till  I  should  have  gone  through 
the  thirteen  ;  and,  as  the  previous  acquisition  of  some  might 
facilitate  the  acquisition  of  certain  others,  I  arranged  them 
with  that  view,  as  they  stand  above.  Temperance  first,  as  it 
tends  to  procure  that  coolness  and  clearness  of  head  which  is 
so  necessary  where  constant  vigilance  was  to  be  kept  up,  and 
guard  maintained  against  the  unremitting  attraction  of  ancient 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  83 

habits,  and  the  force  of  perpetual  temptations.  This  being 
acquired  and  established,  Silence  would  be  more  easy ;  and 
my  desire  being  to  gain  knowledge  at  the  same  time  that  I 
improved  in  virtue,  and  considering  that  in  conversation  it 
was  obtained  rather  by  the  use  of  the  ears  than  of  the  tongue, 
and  therefore  wishing  to  break  a  habit  I  was  getting  into  of 
prattling,  punning,  and  joking,  which  only  made  me  accept 
able  to  trifling  company,  I  gave  Silence  the  second  place. 
This  and  the  next,  Order,  I  expected  would  allow  me  more 
time  for  attending  to  my  project  and  my  studies.  Resolution, 
once  become  habitual,  would  keep  me  firm  in  my  endeavors 
to  obtain  all  the  subsequent  virtues  ;  Frugality  and  Industry 
freeing  me  from  my  remaining  debt,  and  producing  affluence 
and  independence,  would  make  more  easy  the  practice  of 
Sincerity  and  Justice,  etc.,  etc.  Conceiving  then,  that,  agree 
ably  to  the  advice  of  Pythagoras  in  his  Golden  Verses, '  daily 
examination  would  be  necessary,  I  contrived  the  following 
method  for  conducting  that  examination. 

I  made  a  little  book,  in  which  I  allotted  a  page  for  each  of 
the  virtues.  I  ruled  each  page  with  red  ink,  so  as  to  have 
seven  columns,  one  for  each  day  of  the  week,  marking  each 
column  with  a  letter  for  the  day.  I  crossed  these  columns 
with  thirteen  red  lines,  marking  the  beginning  of  each  line 
with  the  first  letter  of  one  of  the  virtues,  on  which  line,  and 
in  its  proper  column,  I  might  mark,  by  a  little  black  spot, 
every  fault  I  found  upon  examination  to  have  been  committed 
respecting  that  virtue  upon  that  day. 

I  determined  to  give  a  week's  strict  attention  to  each  of  the 


1.  A  part  of  the  verses  is  thus  rendered  from  the  version  of  Hierocles: 
"How  will  our  remembrance  reprehend  us  for  doing  ill,  or  praise  us  for 
doing  well,  unless  the  preceding  meditation  receive  some  laws,  according 
to  which  the  whole  tenor  of  our  life  should  be  ordered,  and  to  which  we 
should  conform  the  very  private  recesses  of  conscience  all  our  lives  long  ? 
He  requires  also  that  this  examination  be  daily  repeated,  that  by  continual 
returns  of  recollection  we  may  not  be  deceived  in  our  judgment.  The  time 
which  he  recommends  for  this  work  is  about  even  or  bed-time,  that  we  may 
conclude  the  action  of  the  da}*  with  the  judgment  of  conscience,  making 
the  examination  of  our  conversation  an  evening  song  to  God.  Wherein 
have  I  transgressed  ?  What  have  I  done  ?  What  duty  have  I  omitted  • 
So  shall  we  measure  our  lives  by  the  rules  above  mentioned,  if  to  the  law  of 
the  mind  we  join  the  judgment  of  reasou." 


84 


BEJSTJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 


virtues  successively.  Thus,  in  the  first  week,  my  great  guard 
was  to  avoid  every  the  least  offence  against  Temperance,  leav 
ing  the  other  virtues  to  their  ordinary  chance,  only  marking 
every  evening  the  faults  of  the  day.  Thus,  if  in  the  first 
week  I  could  keep  my  first  line,  marked  T,  clear  of  spots,  I 
supposed  the  habit  of  that  virtue  so  much  strengthened,  and 
its  opposite  weakened,  that  I  might  venture  extending  my 
attention  to  include  the  next,  and  for  the  following  week  keep 
both  lines  clear  of  spots.  Proceeding  thus  to  the  last,  I  could 
go  through  a  course  complete  in  thirteen  weeks,  and  four 
courses  in  a  year.  And  like  him  who,  having  a  garden  to 
weed,  does  not  attempt  to  eradicate  all  the  bad  herbs  at  once, 
which  would  exceed  his  reach  and  his  strength,  but  works  on 

Form  of  the  Pages. 


TEMPERANCE. 

EAT   NOT   TO    DULLNESS  ; 
DRINK    NOT   TO    ELEVATION. 

S. 

M. 

T. 

W. 

T. 

F. 

S. 

T. 



S. 

* 

* 

* 

# 

0. 

** 

* 

* 

* 

# 

* 

R. 



* 

* 

F. 

# 

* 

I. 

* 





S. 

J. 

M. 

C. 

T. 

c. 

H. 

BEX.TAMIN   FRAXKLIN".  85 

one  of  the  beds  at  a  time,  and,  having  accomplished  the  first, 
proceeds  to  a  second,  so  I  should  have,  I  hoped,  the  encourag 
ing  pleasure  of  seeing  on  my  pages  the  progress  I  made  in 
virtue,  by  clearing  successively  my  lines  of  their  spots,  till  in 
the  end,  by  a  number  of  courses,  I  should  be  happy  in  view 
ing  a  clean  book,  after  a  thirteen  weeks'  daily  examination. 

This  my  little  book  had  for  its  motto  these  lines  from  Addi- 
son's  Cato : 

"  Here  will  I  hold.    If  there's  a  power  above  us 
(And  that  there  is,  all  nature  cries  aloud 
Through  all  her  works),  He  must  delight  in  virtue; 
And  that  which  He  delights  in  must  be  happy." 

Another  from  Cicero  : 

"  O  vitae  Philosophia  dux!  O  virtutum  indagatrix  expultrixque  vitiorum! 
Unus  dies,  bene  et  ex  praeceptis  tuis  actus,  peccanti  immortalitati  est  ante- 
ponendus."  l 

Another  from  the  Proverbs  of  Solomon,  speaking  of  wisdom 
or  virtue : 

"  Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand,  and  in  her  left  hand  riches  and  honor. 
Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her  paths  are  peace."  iii.  16, 17. 

And  conceiving  God  to  be  the  fountain  of  wisdom,  I  thought 
it  right  and  necessary  to  solicit  His  assistance  for  obtaining  it ; 
to  this  end  I  formed  the  following  little  prayer,  which  was 
prefixed  to  my  tables  of  examination,  for  daily  use  : 

"  O  powerful  Goodness  !  bountiful  Father  !  merciful  Guide  !  Increase  in 
me  that  wisdom  which  discovers  my  truest  interest.  Strengthen  my  resolu 
tions  to  perform  what  that  wisdom  dictates.  Accept  my  kind  offices  to  Thy 
other  children  as  the  only  return  in  my  poicer  for  thy  continual  favors  to 
me." 

I  used  also  sometimes  a  little  prayer  which  I  took  from 
Thomson's  Poems,  viz. : 

"  Father  of  light  and  life,  thou  Good  Supreme! 
O  teach  me  what  is  good  ;  teach  me  Thyself! 
Save  me  from  folly,  vanity,  and  vice, 
From  every  low  pursuit;  and  fill  my  soul 
With  knowledge,  conscious  peace,  and  virtue  pure  ; 
Sacred,  substantial,  never-fading  bliss!" 

1.  "O  Philosophy,  guide  of  life!  O  discoverer  of  virtues  and  expeller  of 
vices!  one  day,  lived  well  and  according  to  thy  precepts,  is  to  be  preferred 
to  an  eternity  of  sinning." 


86 


BEKJAMIK   FRAKKLItf. 


The  precept  of  Order  requiring  that  every  part  of  my  busi 
ness  should  have  its  allotted  time,  one  page  in  my  little  book 
contained  the  following  scheme  of  employment  for  the  twenty- 
four  hours  of  a  natural  day: 


THE  MORNING. 

Question.  What  good  shall  I  do 
this  day  ? 


Rise,  wash,  and  address" Power 
ful  Goodness!  Contrive  day's 
business,  and  take  the  resolution 
of  the  day ;  prosecute  the  present 
study,  and  breakfast. 


Work. 


NOON. 


EVENING. 

Question.    What   good   have  I 
done  to-day  ? 


NIGHT. 


12  I      Read,  or  overlook  my  accounts, 
1  f  and  dine. 


Work. 


6  "I  Put  things  in  their  places.    Sup- 

7  !  per.    Music  or  diversion,  or  con- 

8  j  versation.      Examination   of   the 
9j  day. 

flO 


Sleep. 


I  entered  upon  the  execution  of  this  plan  for  self-examina 
tion,  and  continued  it  with  occasional  intermissions  for  some 
time.  I  was  surprised  to  find  myself  so  much  fuller  of  faults 
than  I  had  imagined ;  but  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
them  diminish.  To  avoid  the  trouble  of  renewing  now  and 
then  my  little  book,  which,  by  scraping  out  the  marks  on  the 
paper  of  old  faults  to  make  room  for  new  ones  in  a  new  course, 
became  full  of  holes,  I  transferred  my  tables  and  precepts  to 
the  ivory  leaves  of  a  memorandum-book,  on  which  the  lines 
were  drawn  with  red  ink,  that  made  a  durable  stain,  and  on 
those  lines  I  marked  my  faults  with  a  black-lead  pencil,  which 
marks  I  could  easily  wipe  out  with  a  wet  sponge.  After  a 
while  I  went  through  one  course  only  in  a  year,  and  after 
ward  only  one  in  several  years,  till  at  length  I  omitted  them 
entirely,  being  employed  in  voyages  and  business  abroad, 


BEXJAMIN   FRAXKLIX.  87 

with  a  multiplicity  of  affairs  that  interfered  ;  but  I  always 
carried  my  little  book  with  me. 

My  scheme  of  ORDER  gave  me  the  most  trouble ;  and  I 
found  that,  though  it  might  be  practicable  where  a  man's 
business  was  such  as  to  leave  him  the  disposition  of  his  time, 
that  of  a  journeyman  printer,  for  instance,  it  was  not  possi 
ble  to  be  exactly  observed  by  a  master,  who  must  mix  with 
the  world,  and  often  receive  people  of  business  at  their  own 
hours.  Order,  too,  with  regard  to  places  for  things,  papers, 
etc.,  I  found  extremely  difficult  to  acquire.  I  had  not  been 
early  accustomed  to  it,  and,  having  an  exceeding  good  memory, 
I  was  not  so  sensible  of  the  inconvenience  attending  want  of 
method.  This  article,  therefore,  cost  me  so  much  painful 
attention,  and  my  faults  in  it  vexed  me  so  much,  and  I 
made  so  little  progress  in  amendment,  and  had  such  frequent 
relapses,  that  I  was  almost  ready  to  give  up  the  attempt,  and 
content  myself  with  a  faulty  character  in  that  respect,  like 
the  man  who,  in  buying  an  ax  of  a  smith,  my  neighbor,  de 
sired  to  have  the  whole  of  its  surface  as  bright  as  the  edge. 
The  Smith  consented  to  grind  it  bright  for  him  if  he  would 
turn  the  wheel ;  he  turned,  while  the  smith  pressed  the  broad 
face  of  the  ax  hard  and  heavily  on  the  stone,  which  made  the 
turning  of  it  very  fatiguing.  The  man  came  every  now  and 
then  from  the  wheel  to  see  how  the  work  went  on,  and  at 
length  would  take  his  ax  as  it  was,  without  farther  grinding. 
"No, "said  the  smith,  "turn  on,  turn  on;  we  shall  have  it 
bright  by  and  by ;  as  yet,  it  is  only  speckled."  "Yes,"  says 
the  man,  "but  I  tliiiik  I  like  a  speckled  ax  best"  And  I 
believe  this  may  have  been  the  case  with  many,  who,  having, 
for  want  of  some  such  means  as  I  employed,  found  the  diffi 
culty  of  obtaining  good  and  breaking  bad  habits  in  other 
points  of  vice  and  virtue,  have  given  up  the  struggle,  and 
concluded  that  "a  speckled  ax  was  best;"  for  something, 
that  pretended  to  be  reason,  was  every  now  and  then  suggest 
ing  to  me  that  such  extreme  nicety  as  I  exacted  of  myself 
might  be  a  kind  of  foppery  in  morals,  which,  if  it  were  known, 
would  make  me  ridiculous  ;  that  a  perfect  character  might  be 


88  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIK. 

attended  with  the  inconvenience  of  being  envied  and  hated  ; 
and  that  a  benevolent  man  should  allow  a  few  faults  in  him 
self  to  keep  his  friends  in  countenance. 

In  truth,  I  found  myself  incorrigible,  with  respect  to  Order; 
and  now  I  am  grown  old,  and  my  memory  bad,  I  feel  very 
sensibly  the  want  of  it.1  But,  on  the  whole,  though  I  never 
arrived  at  the  perfection  I  had  been  so  ambitious  of  obtain 
ing,  but  fell  far  short  of  it,  yet  I  was,  by  the  endeavor,  a 
better  and  a  happier  man  than  I  otherwise  should  have  been  if 
I  had  not  attempted  it  ;  as  those  who  aim  at  perfect  writing 
by  imitating  the  engraved  copies,  though  they  never  reach  the 
wished-for  excellence  of  those  copies,  their  hand  is  mended  by 
the  endeavor,  and  is  tolerable  while  it  continues  fair  and 
legible. 

It  may  be  well  my  posterity  should  be  informed  that  to  this 
little  artifice,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  their  ancestor  owed 
the  constant  felicity  of  his  life,  down  to  his  seventy -ninth  year,, 
in  which  this  is  written.  What  reverses  may  attend  the  re 
mainder  is  in  the  hand  of  Providence  ;  but,  if  they  arrive,  the 
reflection  on  past  happiness  enjoyed  ought  to  help  his  bearing 
them  with  more  resignation.  To  Temperance  he  ascribes  his 
long-continued  health,  and  what  is  still  left  to  him  of  a  good 
constitution ;  to  Industry  and  Frugality,  the  early  easiness  of 
his  circumstances  and  acquisition  of  his  fortune,  with  all  that 
knowledge  that  enabled  him  to  be  a  useful  citizen,  and 
obtained  for  him  some  degree  of  reputation  among  the  learned  ; 
to  Sincerity  and  Justice,  the  confidence  of  his  country,  and 
the  honorable  employs  it  conferred  upon  him  ;  and  to  the 
joint  influence  of  the  whole  mass  of  the  virtues,  even  in  the 
imperfect  state  he  was  able  to  acquire  them,  all  that  evenness 
of  temper,  and  that  cheerfulness  in  conversation,  which 
makes  his  company  still  sought  for,  and  agreeable  even  to  his 


1.  When  the  orderly,  business-like  Adams  joined  Franklin  as  fellow-com 
missioner  in  France,  "he  was  shocked  at,  the  confusion  in  which  he  saw  all 
the  papers  of  the  embassy,  and  set  vigorously  about  the  task  of  sorting, 
labeling,  docketing,  and  tying  up  letters  and  accounts."— .A/Q?-.?e'fi  Life  of 
Franklin,  p.  391. 


^   FKA^KLIN.  89 


younger  acquaintance.  I  hope,  therefore,  that  some  of  my 
descendants  may  follow  the  example  and  reap  the  benefit. 

It  will  be  remarked  that,  though  my  scheme  was  not  wholly 
without  religion,  there  was  in  it  no  mark  of  any  of  the  dis 
tinguishing  tenets  of  any  particular  sect.  I  had  purposely 
avoided  them;  for,  being  fully  persuaded  of  the  utility  and 
excellency  of  my  method,  and  that  it  might  be  serviceable  to 
people  in  all  religions,  and  intending  some  time  or  other  to 
publish  it,  I  would  not  have  anything  in  it  that  should  preju 
dice  any  one,  of  any  sect,  against  it.  I  purposed  writing  a 
little  comment  on  each  virtue,  in  which  I  would  have  shown 
the  advantages  of  possessing  it,  and  the  mischiefs  attending 
its  opposite  vice  ;  and  I  should  have  called  my  book  THE  ART 
OF  VIRTUE,  because  it  would  have  shown  the  means  and  man 
ner  of  obtaining  virtue,  which  would  have  distinguished  it 
from  the  mere  exhortation  to  be  good,  that  does  not  instruct 
and  indicate  the  means,  but  is  like  the  apostle's  man  of  verbal 
charity,  who  only  without  showing  to  the  naked  and  hungry 
how  or  where  they  might  get  clothes  or  victuals,  exhorted 
them  to  be  fed  and  clothed.  —  James  ii.  15,  16. 

But  it  so  happened  that  my  intention  of  writing  and  pub 
lishing  this  comment  was  never  fulfilled.  I  did,  indeed,  from 
time  to  time  put  down  short  hints  of  the  sentiments,  reason 
ings,  etc.,  to  be  made  use  of  in  it,  some  of  which  I  have  still 
by  me;  but  the  necessary  close  attention  to  private  business  in 
the  earlier  part  of  my  life,  and  public  business  since,  have  oc 
casioned  my  postponing  it;  for,  it  being  connected  in  my  mind 
with  a  great  and  extensive  project,  that  required  the  whole 
man  to  execute,  and  which  an  unforeseen  succession  of  em 
ploys  prevented  my  attending  to,  it  has  hitherto  remained 
unfinished.1 

1.  The  "  Art  of  Virtue  "  was  first  suggested  in  one  of  Franklin's  "  Busy- 
Body"  papers,  in  IT'-iS.  which  begins  thus:  "It  is  said  that  the  Persians,  in 
their  ancient  constitution,  had  public  schools  in  which  virtue  was  taught  as 
a  liberal  art  or  science."  This  practical  method  of  propagating  virtue  was 
a  favorite  scheme,  as  shown  by  his  frequently  recurring  to  it  until  extreme 
old  age.  In  1760  he  discusses  it  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Kames,  insisting  that 
"To  acquire  those  [virtues]  that  are  wanting,  and  secure  what  we  acquire. 
as  well  as  those  we  have  naturally,  is  the  subject  of  an  art.  It  is  as  prop 
erly  an  art  as  painting,  navigation,  or  architecture."  A  year  later  he 


90  BENJAMIN 

In  this  piece  it  was  my  design  to  explain  and  enforce  this 
doctrine,  that  vicious  actions  are  not  hurtful  because  they  are 
forbidden,  but  forbidden  because  they  are  hurtful,  the  nature 
of  man  alone  considered;  that  it  was,  therefore,  every  one's 
interest  to  be  virtuous  who  wished  to  be  happy  even  in  this 
world;  and  I  should,  from  this  circumstance  (there  being 
always  in  the  world  a  number  of  rich  merchants,  nobility, 
states,  and  princes,  who  have  need  of  honest  instruments  for 
the  management  of  their  affairs,  and  such  being  so  rare),  have 
endeavored  to  convince  young  persons  that  no  qualities  were 
so  likely  to  make  a  poor  man's  fortune  as  those  of  probity  and 
integrity. 

My  list  of  virtues  contained  at  first  but  twelve;  but  a  Quaker 
friend  having  kindly  informed  me  that  I  was  generally  thought 
proud;  that  my  pride  showed  itself  frequently  in  conversation; 
that  I  was  not  content  with  being  in  the  right  when  discuss 
ing  any  point,  but  was  overbearing,  and  rather  insolent,  of 
which  he  convinced  me  by  mentioning  several  instances;  I  de 
termined  endeavoring  to  cure  myself,  if  I  could,  of  this  vice 
or  folly  among  the  rest,  and  I  added  Humility  to  my  list,  giv 
ing  an  extensive  meaning  to  the  word. 

I  cannot  boast  of  much  success  in  acquiring  the  reality  of 
this  virtue,  but  I  had  a  good  deal  with  regard  to  the  appear 
ance  of  it.  I  made  it  a  rule  to  forbear  all  direct  contradiction 
to  the  sentiments  of  others,  and  all  positive  assertion  of  my 
own.  I  even  forbid  myself,  agreeably  to  the  old  laws  of  our 
Junto,  the  use  of  every  word  or  expression  in  the  language 
that  imported  a  fixed  opinion,  such  as  certainly,  undoubtedly, 
etc.,  and  I  adopted,  instead  of  them,  I  conceive,  I  apprehend, 
or  I  imagine  a  thing  to  be  so  or  so;  or  it  so  appears  to  me  at 
present.  When  another  asserted  something  that  I  thought  an 
error,  I  denied  myself  the  pleasure  of  contradicting  him 
abruptly,  and  of  showing  immediately  some  absurdity  in  his 
proposition;  and  in  answering  I  began  by  observing  that  in 

writes:  "You  will  not  doubt  my  being  serious  in  the  intention  of  finishing 
my  '  Art  of  Virtue.'  It  is  not  a  mere  ideal  work.  I  planned  it  first  in  1733. 
.  .  .  The  materials  have  been  growing  ever  since.  The  form  only  is  now 
to  be  given." 


BEXJAMIX    FRAXKLIX.  91 

certain  cases  or  circumstances  his  opinion  would  be  right,  but 
in  the  present  case  there  appeared  or  seemed  to  me  some  dif 
ference,  etc.  I  soon  found  the  advantage  of  this  change  in 
mj  manner;  the  conversations  I  engaged  in  went  on  more 
pleasantly.  The  modest  way  in  which  I  proposed  my  opin 
ions  procured  them  a  readier  reception  and  less  contradiction; 
I  had  less  mortification  when  I  was  found  to  be  in  the  wrong, 
and  I  more  easily  prevailed  with  others  to  give  up  their  mis 
takes  and  join  with  me  when  I  happened  to  be  in  the  right. 

And  this  mode,  which  I  at  first  put  on  with  some  violence 
to  natural  inclination,  became  at  length  so  easy,  and  so  habit 
ual  to  me,  that  perhaps  for  these  fifty  years  past  no  one  has 
ever  heard  a  dogmatical  expression  escape  me.  And  to  this 
habit  (after  my  character  of  integrity)  I  think  it  principally 
owing  that  I  had  early  so  much  weight  with  my  fellow  citizens 
when  I  proposed  new  institutions,  or  alterations  in  the  old, 
and  so  much  influence  in  public  councils  when  I  became  a 
member ;  for  I  was  but  a  bad  speaker,  never  eloquent,  sub 
ject  to  much  hesitation  in  my  choice  of  words,  hardly  correct 
in  language,  and  yet  I  generally  carried  my  points. 

In  reality,  there  is,  perhaps,  no  one  of  our  natural  passions 
so  hard  to  subdue  as  pride.  Disguise  it,  struggle  with  it, 
beat  it  down,  stifle  it,  mortify  it  as  much  as  one  pleases,  it 
is  still  alive,  and  will  every  now  and  then  peep  out  and  show 
itself ;  you  will  see  it,  perhaps,  often  in  this  history ;  for, 
even  if  I  could  conceive  that  I  had  completely  overcome  it, 
I  should  probably  be  proud  of  my  humility. 

I  AM  NOW  ABOUT  TO  WRITE  AT  HOME,  AUGUST,  1788,  BUT  CAN 
NOT  HAVE  THE  HELP  EXPECTED  FROM  MY  PAPERS,  MANY  OF 
THEM  BEING  LOST  IN  THE  WAR.  I  HAVE,  HOWEVER,  FOUND 
THE  FOLLOWING. 

HAVING  mentioned  a  great  and  extensive  project  which  I 
had  conceived,  it  seems  proper  that  some  account  should  be 
here  given  of  that  project  and  its  object.  Its  first  rise  in  my 
mind  appears  in  the  following  little  paper,  accidentally  pre 
served,  viz.:  .  . 


92  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

Observations  on  my  reading  history,  in  Library,  May  19th, 
1731. 

"  That  the  great  affairs  of  the  world,  the  wars,  revolutions, 
etc. ,  are  carried  on  and  effected  by  parties. 

"  That  the  view  of  these  parties  is  their  present  general 
interest,  or  what  they  take  to  be  such. 

' l  That  the  different  views  of  these  different  parties  occasion 
all  confusion. 

' '  That  while  a  party  is  carrying  on  a  general  design,  each 
man  has  his  particular  private  interest  in  view. 

' '  That  as  soon  as  a  party  has  gained  its  general  point,  each 
member  becomes  intent  upon  his  particular  interest ;  which, 
thwarting  others,  breaks  that  party  into  divisions,  and  occa 
sions  more  confusion. 

"That  few  in  public  affairs  act  from  a  mere  view  of  the 
good  of  their  country,  whatever  they  may  pretend  ;  and, 
though  their  actings  bring  real  good  to  their  country,  yet  men 
primarily  considered  that  their  own 'and  their  country's  inter 
est  was  united,  and  did  not  act  from  a  principle  of  benevo 
lence. 

"  That  fewer  still,  in  public  affairs,  act  with  a  view  to  the 
good  of  mankind. 

' '  There  seems  to  me  at  present  to  be  great  occasion  for 
raising  a  United  Party  for  Virtue,  by  forming  the  virtuous 
and  good  men  of  all  nations  into  a  regular  body,  to  be  gov 
erned  by  suitable  good  and  wise  rules,  which  good  and  wise 
men  may  probably  be  more  unanimous  in  their  obedience  to, 
than  common  people  are  to  common  laws. 

"  I  at  present  think  that  whoever  attempts  this  aright,  and 
is  well  qualified,  cannot  fail  of  pleasing  God,  and  of  meeting 
with  success.  B.  F." 

Kevolving  this  project  in  my  mind,  as  to  be  undertaken 
hereafter,  when  my  circumstances  should  afford  me  the  nec 
essary  leisure,  I  put  down  from  time  to  time,  on  pieces  of 
paper,  such  thoughts  as  occurred  to  me  respecting  it.  Most 
of  these  are  lost ;  but  I  find  one  purporting  to  be  the  sub- 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  93 

stance  of  an  intended  creed,  containing,  as  I  thought,  the 
essentials  of  every  known  religion,  and  being  free  of  every 
thing  that  might  shock  the  professors  of  any  religion.  It  is 
expressed  in  these  words,  viz. : 

"That  there  is  one  God,  who  made  all  things. 

"  That  He  governs  the  world  by  His  providence. 

"That  He  ought  to  be  worshiped  by  adoration,  prayer,  and 
thanksgiving. 

"  But  that  the  most  acceptable  service  of  God  is  doing  good 
to  man. 

"  That  the  soul  is  immortal. 

"And  that  God  will  certainly  reward  virtue  and  punish 
vice,  either  here  or  hereafter." 

My  ideas  at  that  time  were,  that  the  sect  should  be  begun 
and  spread  at  first  among  young  and  single  men  only  ;  that 
each  person  to  be  initiated  should  not  only  declare  his  assent 
to  such  creed,  but  should  have  exercised  himself  with  the 
thirteen  weeks'  examination  and  practice  of  the  virtues,  as  in 
the  before-mentioned  model ;  that  the  existence  of  such  a 
society  should  be  kept  a  secret,  till  it  was  become  considerable, 
to  prevent  solicitations  for  the  admission  of  improper  persons, 
but  that  the  members  should  each  of  them  search  among  his 
acquaintance  for  ingenuous,  well-disposed  youths,  to  whom, 
with  prudent  caution,  the  scheme  should  be  gradually  com 
municated  ;  that  the  members  should  engage  to  afford  their 
advice,  assistance,  and  support  to  each  other  in  promoting  one 
another's  interests,  business,  and  advancement  in  life;  that,  for 
distinction,  we  should  be  called  The  Society  of  the  Free  and 
Easy :  free,  as  being,  by  the  general  practice  and  habit  of  the 
virtues,  free  from  the  dominion  of  vice  ;  and  particularly  by 
the  practice  of  industry  and  frugality,  free  from  debt,  which 
exposes  a  man  to  confinement,  and  a  species  of  slavery  to  his 
creditors. 

This  is  as  much  as  I  can  now  recollect  of  the  project,  except 
that  I  communicated  it  in  part  to  two  young  men,  who 
adopted  it  with  some  enthusiasm  ;  but  my  then  narrow  cir 
cumstances,  and  the  necessity  I  was  under  of  sticking  close  to 


94:  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

my  business,  occasioned  my  postponing  the  further  prosecu 
tion  of  it  at  that  time ;  and  my  multifarious  occupations, 
public  and  private,  induced  me  to  continue  postponing,  so 
that  it  has  been  omitted  till  I  have  no  longer  strength  or 
activity  left  sufficient  for  such  an  enterprise  ;  though  I  am  still 
of  opinion  that  it  was  a  practicable  scheme,  and  might  have 
been  very  useful,  by  forming  a  great  number  of  good  citizens  : 
and  I  was  not  discouraged  by  the  seeming  magnitude  of  the 
undertaking,  as  I  have  always  thought  that  one  man  of  toler 
able  abilities  may  work  great  changes,  and  accomplish  great 
affairs  among  mankind,  if  he  first  forms  a  good  plan,  and, 
cutting  off  all  amusements  or  other  employments  that  would 
divert  his  attention,  makes  the  execution  of  that  same  plan 
his  sole  study  and  business. 

In  1732  I  first  published  my  Almanac,  under  the  name  of 
Richard  Saunders  ;  it  was  continued  by  me  about  twenty-five 
years,  commonly  called  Poor  Richard^s  Almanac.  I  endeav 
ored  to  make  it  both  entertaining  and  useful,  and  it  accord 
ingly  came  to  be  in  such  demand,  that  I  reaped  considerable 
profit  from  it,  vending  annually  near  ten  thousand.  And 
observing  that  it  was  generally  read,  scarce  any  neighborhood 
in  the  province  being  without  it,1 1  considered  it  as  a  proper 
vehicle  for  conveying  instruction  among  the  common  people, 
who  bought  scarcely  any  other  books ;  I  therefore  filled  all 
the  little  spaces  that  occurred  between  the  remarkable  days  in 
the  calendar  with  proverbial  sentences,  chiefly  such  as  incul 
cated  industry  and  frugality,  as  the  means  of  procuring 
wealth,  and  thereby  securing  virtue  ;  it  being  more  difficult 
for  a  man  in  want  to  act  always  honestly,  as,  to  use  here  one 
of  those  proverbs,  it  is  hard  for  an  empty  sack  to  stand  up 
right. 


1.  "  Mr.  Saunders  became  a  personage  as  well  known  in  that  age  as  Josh 
Billings  and  Mrs.  Partington  in  ours.  He  became  a  type,  and  more  than  one 
piece  of  wisdom  he  never  was  guilty  of  writing  owed  its  currency  to  the 
words,  '  As  Poor  Richard  says.'  His  sayings  passed  into  the  daily  speech  of 
the  people,  were  quoted  in  sermons,  were  printed  on  the  title-pages  of 
pamphlets  and  used  as  mottoes  by  the  newspaper  moralists  of  the  d;vy,  and 
continued  down  even  to  the  Revolution  to  be  read  with  avidity." — Mc- 
Master's  Life  of  Franklin. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  95 

These  proverbs,  which  contained  the  wisdom  of  many  ages 
and  nations,  I  assembled  and  formed  into  a  connected  dis 
course  prefixed  to  the  Almanac  of  1757,  as  the  harangue  of  a 
wise  old  man  to  the  people  attending  an  auction.1  The  bring 
ing  all  these  scattered  counsels  thus  into  a  focus  enabled  them 
to  make  greater  impression.  The  piece,  being  universally 
approved,  was  copied  in  all  the  newspapers  of  the  Continent ; 
reprinted  in  Britain  on  a  broadside,  to  be  stuck  up  in  houses  ; 
two  translations  were  made  of  it  in  French,  and  great  numbers 
bought  by  the  clergy  and  gentry,  to  distribute  gratis  among 
their  poor  parishioners  and  tenants.  In  Pennsylvania,  as  it 
discouraged  useless  expense  in  foreign  superfluities,  some 
thought  it  had  its  share  of  influence  in  producing  that  grow 
ing  plenty  of  money  which  was  observable  for  several  years 
after  its  publication. 

I  considered  my  newspaper,  also,  as  another  means  of  com 
municating  instruction,  and  in  that  view  frequently  reprinted 
in  it  extracts  from  the  Spectator,  and  other  moral  writers  ; 
and  sometimes  published  little  pieces  of  my  own,  which  had 
been  first  composed  for  reading  in  our  Junto.  Of  these  are  a 
Socratic  dialogue,  tending  to  prove  that,  whatever  might  be 
his  parts  and  abilities,  a  vicious  man  could  not  properly  be 
called  a  man  of  sense  ;  and  a  discourse  on  self-denial,  showing 
that  virtue  was  not  secure  till  its  practice  became  a  habitude, 
and  was  free  from  the  opposition  of  contrary  inclinations. 
These  may  be  found  in  the  papers  about  the  beginning  of 
1735. 

In  the  conduct  of  my  newspaper,  I  carefully  excluded  all 
libeling  and  personal  abuse,  which  is  of  late  years'  become  so 

1.  This  discourse  is  known  as  "  Father  Abraham's  Speech.''  It  has  been 
many  times  republished  under  the  title  "The  Way  to  Wealth."  "Since 
that  day,"  says  McMaster,  "it  has  spread  over  the  whole  of  Europe,  and 
may  now  be  read  in  French,  in  German,  in  Spanish,  in  Italian,  in  Russian, 
in  the  language  of  Holland,  in  the  language  of  Bohemia,  in  modern  Greek, 
in  Gaelic,  and  in  Portuguese."  Under  the  title  "  La  Science  du  Bouhommo 
Richard,"  it  has  been  thirty  times  printed  in  French,  and  twice  in  Italian. 
Among  the  familiar  proverbs  of  the  speech  are  these:  "Little  strokes  fell 
great  oaks,"  "Three  removes  are  as  bad  as  a  fire."  "Fools  make  feasts 
and  wise  men  eat  them."  "He  that  goes  a-borrowing  goes  a-sorrowing," 
"One  to-day  is  worth  two  to-morrows,"  "Early  to  bed  and  early  to  rise, 
makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy,  and  wise, "  "  Experience  keeps  a  dear  school, 
but  fools  will  learn  in  no  other,  as  Poor  Richard  says." 


96  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

disgraceful  to  our  country.  Whenever  I  was  solicited  to  insert 
anything  of  that  kind,  and  the  writers  pleaded,  as  they  gen 
erally  did,  the  liberty  of  the  press,  and  that  a  newspaper  was 
like  a  stage-coach,  in  which  any  one  who  would  pay  had  a 
right  to  a  place,  my  answer  was,  that  I  would  print  the  piece 
separately  if  desired,  and  the  author  might  have  as  many 
copies  as  he  pleased  to  distribute  himself,  but  that  I  would 
not  take  upon  me  to  spread  his  detraction  ;  and  that,  having 
contracted  with  my  subscribers  to  furnish  them  with  what 
might  be  either  useful  or  entertaining,  I  could  not  fill  their 
papers  with  private  altercation,  in  which  they  had  no  concern, 
without  doing  them  manifest  injustice.  Now,  many  of  our 
printers  make  no  scruple  of  gratifying  the  malice  of  individ 
uals  by  false  accusations  of  the  fairest  characters  among  our 
selves,  augmenting  animosity  even  to  the  producing  of  duels  ; 
and  are,  moreover,  so  indiscreet  as  to  print  scurrilous  reflec 
tions  on  the  government  of  neighboring  states,  and  even  on 
the  conduct  of  our  best  national  allies,  which  maybe  attended 
with  the  most  pernicious  consequences.  These  things  I  men 
tion  as  a  caution  to  young  printers,  and  that  they  may  be 
encouraged  not  to  pollute  their  presses  and  disgrace  their 
profession  by  such  infamous  practices,  but  refuse  steadily,  as. 
they  may  see  by  my  example  that  such  a  course  of  conduct 
will  not,  on  the  whole,  be  injurious  to  their  interests. 

In  1733  I  sent  one  of  my  journeymen  to  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  where  a  printer  was  wanting.  I  furnished  him  with 
a  press  and  letters,  on  an  agreement  of  partnership,  by  which 
I  was  to  receive  one  third  of  the  profits  of  the  business,  paying 
one  third  of  the  expense.  He  was  a  man  of  learning,  and 
honest  but  ignorant  in  matters  of  account  ;  and,  though  he 
sometimes  made  me  remittances,  I  could  get  no  account  from 
him,  nor  any  satisfactory  state  of  our  partnership  while  he 
lived.  On  his  decease,  the  business  was  continued  by  his. 
widow,  who,  being  born  and  bred  in  Holland,  where,  as  I  have 
been  informed,  the  knowledge  of  accounts  makes  a  part  of " 
female  education,  she  not  only  sent  me  as  clear  a  state  as  she 
could  find  of  the  transactions  past,  but  continued  to  account 


BENJAMIH   FRASTKLItf.  97 

with  the  greatest  regularity  and  exactness  every  quarter  after 
wards,  and  managed  the  business  with  such  success,  that  she 
not  only  brought  up  reputably  a  family  of  children,  but,  at 
the  expiration  of  the  term,  was  able  to  purchase  of  me  the 
printing-house,  and  establish  her  son  in  it. 

I  mention  this  affair  chiefly  for  the  sake  of  recommending 
that  branch  of  education  for  our  young  females,  as  likely  to 
be  of  more  use  to  them  and  their  children,  in  case  of  widow 
hood,  than  either  music  or  dancing,  by  preserving  them  from 
losses  by  imposition  of  crafty  men,  and  enabling  them  to  con 
tinue,  perhaps,  a  profitable  mercantile  house,  with  established 
correspondence,  till  a  son  is  grown  up  fit  to  undertake  and 
go  on  with  it,  to  the  lasting  advantage  and  enriching  of  the 
family. 

About  the  year  1734  there  arrived  among  us  from  Ireland  a 
young  Presbyterian  preacher,  named  Hemphill,  who  delivered 
with  a  good  voice,  and  apparently  extempore,  most  excellent 
discourses,  which  drew  together  considerable  numbers  of  dif 
ferent  persuasions,  who  joined  in  admiring  them.  Among 
the  rest,  I  became  one  of  his  constant  hearers,  his  sermons 
pleasing  me,  as  they  had  little  of  the  dogmatical  kind,  but  in 
culcated  strongly  the  practice  of  virtue,  or  what  in  the  religious 
style  are  called  good  works.  Those,  however,  of  our  congre 
gation  who  considered  themselves  as  orthodox  Presbyterians 
disapproved  his  doctrine,  and  were  joined  by  most  of  the  old 
clergy,  who  arraigned  him  of  heterodoxy  before  the  synod,  in 
order  to  have  him  silenced.  I  became  his  zealous  partisan, 
and  contributed  all  I  could  to  raise  a  party  in  his  favor,  and 
we  combated  for  him  awhile  with  some  hopes  of  success. 
There  was  much  scribbling  pro  and  con  upon  the  occasion  ; 
and  finding  that,  though  an  elegant  preacher,  he  was  but  a 
poor  writer,  I  lent  him  my  pen  and  wrote  for  him  two  or 
three  pamphlets,  and  one  piece  in  the  Gazette  of  April,  1735. 
Those  pamphlets,  as  is  generally  the  case  with  controversial 
writings,  though  eagerly  read  at  the  time,  were  soon  out  of 
vogue,  and  I  question  whether  a  single  copy  of  them  now 
exists. 


98  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

During  the  contest  an  unlucky  occurrence  hurt  his  cause 
exceedingly.  One  of  our  adversaries  having  heard  him  preach 
a  sermon  that  was  much  admired,  thought  he  had  somewhere 
read  the  sermon  before,  or  at  least  a  part  of  it.  On  search,  he 
found  that  part  quoted  at  length,  in  one  of  the  British  Re 
views,  from  a  discourse  of  Dr.  Foster's.  This  detection  gave 
many  of  our  party  disgust,  who  accordingly  abandoned  his 
cause,  and  occasioned  our  more  speedy  discomfiture  in  the 
synod.  I  stuck  by  him,  however,  as  I  rather  approved  his 
giving  us  good  sermons  composed  by  others,  than  bad  ones  of 
his  own  manufacture,  though  the  latter  was  the  practice  of 
common  teachers.  He  afterward  acknowledged  to  me  that 
none  of  those  he  preached  were  his  own ;  adding,  that  his 
memory  was  such  as  enabled  him  to  retain  and  repeat  any 
sermon  after  one  reading  only.  On  our  defeat,  he  left  us  in 
search  elsewhere  of  better  fortune,  and  I  quitted  the  congrega 
tion,  never  joining  it  after,  though  I  continued  many  years  my 
subscription  for  the  support  of  its  ministers. 

I  had  begun  in  1733  to  study  languages  ;  I  soon  made  my 
self  so  much  a  master  of  the  French  as  to  be  able  to  read  the 
books  with  ease.  I  then  undertook  the  Italian.  An  acquaint 
ance,  who  was  also  learning  it,  used  often  to  tempt  me  to 
play  chess  with  him.  Finding  this  took  up  too  much  of  the 
time  I  had  to  spare  for  study,  I  at  length  refused  to  play  any 
more,  unless  on  this  condition,  that  the  victor  in  every  game 
should  have  a  right  to  impose  a  task,  either  in  parts  of  the 
grammar  to  be  got  by  heart,  or  in  translations,  etc. ,  which 
tasks  the  vanquished  was  to  perform  on  honor,  before  our 
next  meeting.  As  we  played  pretty  equally,  we  thus  beat  one 
another  into  that  language.  I  afterwards  with  a  little  pains 
taking  acquired  as  much  of  the  Spanish  as  to  read  their  books 
also. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  I  had  only  one  year's  instruc 
tion  in  a  Latin  school,  and  that  when  very  young,  after  which 
I  neglected  that  language  entirely.  But,  when  I  had  attained 
an  acquaintance  with  the  French,  Italian,  and  Spanish,  I  was 
surprised  to  find,  on  looking  over  a  Latin  Testament,  that  I 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  99 

understood  so  much  more  of  that  language  than  I  had  imag 
ined,  which  encouraged  me  to  apply  myself  again  to  the  study 
of  it,  and  I  met  with  more  success,  as  those  preceding  lan 
guages  had  greatly  smoothed  my  way. 

From  these  circumstances,  I  have  thought  that  there  is  some 
inconsistency  in  our  common  mode  of  teaching  languages. 
We  are  told  that  it  is  proper  to  begin  first  with  the  Latin,  and, 
having  acquired  that,  it  will  be  more  easy  to  attain  those  mod 
ern  languages  which  are  derived  from  it ;  and  yet  we  do  not 
begin  with  the  Greek,  in  order  more  easily  to  acquire  the 
Latin.  It  is  true  that,  if  you  can  clamber  and  get  to  the  top 
of  a  staircase  without  using  the  steps,  you  will  more  easily 
gain  them  in  descending  ;  but,  certainly,  if  you  begin  with 
the  lowest  you  will  with  more  ease  ascend  to  the  top  ;  and  I 
would  therefore  offer  it  to  the  consideration  of  those  who  sup 
erintend  the  education  of  our  youth,  whether,  since  many  of 
those  who  begin  with  the  Latin  quit  the  same  after  spending 
some  years  without  having  made  any  great  proficiency,  and 
what  they  have  learned  becomes  almost  useless,  so  that  their 
time  has  been  lost,  it  would  not  have  been  better  to  have 
begun  with  the  French,  proceeding  to  the  Italian,  etc.;  for, 
though,  after  spending  the  same  time,  they  should  quit  the 
study  of  languages  and  never  arrive  at  the  Latin,  they  would, 
however,  have  acquired  another  tongue  or  two,  that,  being 
in  modern  use,  might  be  serviceable  to  them  in  common  life. 

After  ten  years'  absence  from  Boston,  and  having  become 
easy  in  my  circumstances,  I  made  a  journey  thither  to  visit 
my  relations,  which  I  could  not  sooner  well  afford.  In  re 
turning,  I  called  at  Newport  to  see  my  brother,  then  settled 
there  with  his  printing-house.  Our  former  differences  were 
forgotten,  and  our  meeting  was  very  cordial  and  affectionate. 
He  was  fast  declining  in  his  health,  and  requested  of  me  that, 
in  case  of  his  death,  which  he  apprehended  not  far  distant,  I 
would  take  home  his  son,  then  but  ten  years  of  age,  and  bring 
him  up  to  the  printing  business.  This  I  accordingly  per 
formed,  sending  him  a  few  years  to  school  before  I  took  him 
into  the  office.  His  mother  carried  on  the  business  till  he  was 


100  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

grown  up,  when  I  assisted  him  with  an  assortment  of  new 
types,  those  of  his  father  being  in  a  manner  worn  out.  Thus 
it  was  that  I  made  my  brother  ample  amends  for  the  service  I 
had  deprived  him  of  by  leaving  him  so  early. 

In  1736  I  lost  one  of  my  sons,  a  fine  boy  of  four  years  old, 
by  the  small-pox,  taken  in  the  common  way.  I  long  regretted 
bitterly,  and  still  regret  that  I  had  not  given  it  to  him  by  in 
oculation.  l  This  I  mention  for  the  sake  of  parents  who  omit 
that  operation,  on  the  supposition  that  they  should  never  for 
give  themselves  if  a  child  died  under  it ;  my  example  show 
ing  that  the  regret  may  be  the  same  either  way,  and  that, 
therefore,  the  safer  should  be  chosen. 

Our  club,  the  Junto,  was  found  so  useful,  and  afforded 
such  satisfaction  to  the  members,  that  several  were  desirous 
of  introducing  their  friends,  which  could  not  well  be  done 
without  exceeding  what  we  had  settled  as  a  convenient  num 
ber,  viz.,  twelve.  We  had  from  the  beginning  made  it  a  rule 
to  keep  our  institution  a  secret,  which  was  pretty  well  ob 
served  ;  the  intention  was  to  avoid  applications  of  improper 
persons  for  admittance,  some  of  whom,  perhaps,  we  might 
find  it  difficult  to  refuse.  I  was  one  of  those  who  were  against 
any  addition  to  our  number,  but,  instead  of  it,  made  in  writ 
ing  a  proposal,  that  every  member  separately  should  endeavor 
to  form  a  subordinate  club,  with  the  same  rules  respecting 
queries,  etc..  and  without  informing  them  of  the  connection 
with  the  Junto.  The  advantages  proposed  were,  the  improve 
ment  of  so  many  more  young  citizens  by  the  use  of  our  insti 
tutions  ;  our  better  acquaintance  with  the  general  sentiments 
of  the  inhabitants  on  any  occasion,  as  the  Junto  member 
might  propose  what  queries  we  should  desire,  and  was  to 
report  to  the  Junto  what  passed  in  his  separate  club  ;  the  pro 
motion  of  our  particular  interests  in  business  by  more  exten 
sive  recommendation,  and  the  increase  of  our  influence  in 

1.  Jenner's  method  of  vaccination  was  not  known  until  1798.  Persons 
were  often  inoculated  with  the  disease  when  in  good  health,  so  as  to  escape 
it  in  more  violent  form  during  epidemics.  Such,  however,  was  the  prejudice 
against  this  practice  that  it  was  believed  by  many  to  be  attended  by  divine 
punishment. 


BEXJAMIX 

public  affairs,  and  our  power  of  doing  good  by  spreading 
through  the  several  clubs  the  sentiments  of  the  Junto. 

The  project  was  approved,  and  every  member  undertook  to 
form  his  club,  but  they  did  not  all  succeed.  Five  or  six  only 
were  completed,  which  were  called  by  different  names,  as  the 
Vine,  the  Union,  the  Band,  etc.  They  were  useful  to  them 
selves,  and  afforded  us  a  good  deal  of  amusement,  informa 
tion,  and  instruction,  besides  answering,  in  some  considerable 
degree,  our  views  of  influencing  the  public  opinion  on  partic 
ular  occasions,  of  which  I  shall  give  some  instances  in  course 
of  time  as  they  happened. 

My  first  promotion  was  my  being  chosen,  in  1736,  clerk  of 
the  General  Assembly.  The  choice  was  made  that  year  with 
out  opposition  ;  but  the  year  following,  when  I  was  again  pro 
posed  (the  choice,  like  that  of  the  members,  being  annual),  a 
new  member  made  a  long  speech  against  me,  in  order  to  favor 
some  other  candidate.  I  was,  however,  chosen,  which  was 
the  more  agreeable  to  me,  as,  besides  the  pay  for  the  imme 
diate  service  as  clerk,  the  place  gave  me  a  better  opportunity 
of  keeping  up  an  interest  among  the  members,  which  secured 
to  me  the  business  of  printing  the  votes,  laws,  paper  money, 
and  other  occasional  jobs  for  the  public,  that,  on  the  whole, 
were  very  profitable. 

I  therefore  did  not  like  the  opposition  of  this  new  member, 
who  was  a  gentleman  of  fortune  and  education,  with  talents 
that  were  likely  to  give  him,  in  time,  great  influence  in  the 
House,  which,  indeed,  afterwards  happened.  I  did  not,  how 
ever,  aim  at  gaining  his  favor  by  paying  any  servile  respect 
to  him,  but,  after  some  time,  took  this  other  method.  Having 
heard  that  he  had  in  his  library  a  certain  very  scarce  and 
curious  book,  I  wrote  a  note  to  him,  expressing  my  desire  of 
perusing  that  book,  and  requesting  he  would  do  me  the  favor 
of  lending  it  to  me  for  a  few  days.  He  sent  it  immediately, 
and  I  returned  it  in  about  a  week  with  another  note,  express 
ing  strongly  my  sense  of  the  favor.  When  we  next  met  in  the 
House,  he  spoke  to  me  (which  he  had  never  done  before),  and 
with  great  civility  ;  and  he  ever  after  manifested  a  readiness 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

to  serve  me  on  all  occasions,  so  that  we  became  great  friends, 
and  our  friendship  continued  to  his  death.  This  is  another 
instance  of  the  truth  of  an  old  maxim  I  had  learned,  which 
says :  "  He  that  lias  once  done  you  a  kindness  will  be  more 
ready  to  do  you  another,  than  he  whom  you  yourself  have 
obliged?'1  And  it  shows  how  much  more  profitable  it  is  pru 
dently  to  remove,  than  to  resent,  return,  and  continue  inimi 
cal  proceedings. 

In  1737,  Colonel  Spots  wood,  late  governor  of  Virginia,  and 
then  postmaster-general,  being  dissatisfied  with  the  conduct 
of  his  deputy  at  Philadelphia,  respecting  some  negligence  in 
rendering,  and  inexactitude  of  his  accounts,  took  from  him 
the  commission  and  offered  it  to  me.  I  accepted  it  readily, 
and  found  it  of  great  advantage  ;  for,  though  the  salary  was 
small,  it  facilitated  the  correspondence  that  improved  my 
newspaper,  increased  the  number  demanded,  as  well  as  the 
advertisements  to  be  inserted,  so  that  it  came  to  afford  me  a 
considerable  income.  My  old  competitor's  newspaper  declined 
proportionably,  and  I  was  satisfied  without  retaliating  his  re 
fusal,  while  postmaster,  to  permit  my  papers  being  carried  by 
the  riders.  Thus  he  suffered  greatly  from  his  neglect  in  due 
accounting  ;  and  I  mention  it  as  a  lesson  to  those  young  men 
who  may  be  employed  in  managing  affairs  for  others,  that 
they  should  always  render  accounts,  and  make  remittances, 
with  great  clearness  and  punctuality.  The  character  of  ob 
serving  such  a  conduct  is  the  most  powerful  of  all  recommen 
dations  to  new  employments  and  increase  of  business. 

I  began  now  to  turn  my  thoughts  a  little  to  public  affairs, 
beginning,  however,  with  small  matters.  The  city  watch  was 
one  of  the  first  things  that  I  conceived  to  want  regulation.  It 
was  managed  by  the  constables  of  the  respective  wards  in 
turn ;  the  constable  warned  a  number  of  housekeepers  to 
attend  him  for  the  night.  Those  who  chose  never  to  attend, 
paid  him  six  shillings  a  year  to  be  excused,  which  was  supposed 
to  be  for  hiring  substitutes,  but  was,  in  reality,  much  more 
than  was  necessary  for  that  purpose,  and  made  the  constable- 
ship  a  place  of  profit ;  and  the  constable,  for  a  little  drink, 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  103 

often  got  such  ragamuffins  about  him  as  a  watch,  that  re 
spectable  housekeepers  did  not  choose  to  mix  with.  Walking 
the  rounds,  too,  was  often  neglected,  and  most  of  the  nights 
spent  in  tippling.  I  thereupon  wrote  a  paper  to  be  read  in 
Junto,  representing  these  irregularities,  but  insisting  more 
particularly  on  the  inequality  of  this  six-shilling  tax  of  the 
constables,  respecting  the  circumstances  of  those  who  paid  it, 
since  a  poor  \vidow  housekeeper,  all  whose  property  to  be 
guarded  by  the  watch  did  not  perhaps  exceed  the  value  of 
fifty  pounds,  paid  as  much  as  the  wealthiest  merchant,  who 
had  thousands  of  pounds'  worth  of  goods  in  his  stores. 

On  the  whole,  I  proposed  as  a  more  effectual  watch,  the 
hiring  of  proper  men  to  serve  constantly  in  that  business ; 
and  as  a  more  equitable  way  of  supporting  the  charge,  the 
levying  a  tax  that  should  be  proportioned  to  the  property. 
This  idea,  being  approved  by  the  Junto,  was  communicated  to 
the  other  clubs,  but  as  arising  in  each  of  them  ;  and  though 
the  plan  was  not  immediately  carried  into  execution,  yet,  by 
preparing  the  minds  of  people  for  the  change,  it  paved  the 
way  for  the  law  obtained  a  few  years  after,  when  the  members 
of  our  clubs  were  grown  into  more  influence. 

About  this  time  I  wrote  a  paper  (first  to  be  read  in  Junto, 
but  it  was  afterward  published)  on  the  different  accidents  and 
carelessnesses  by  which  houses  were  set  on  fire,  with  cautions 
against  them,  and  means  proposed  of  avoiding  them.  This 
was  much  spoken  of  as  a  useful  piece,  and  gave  rise  to  a 
project,  which  soon  followed  it,  of  forming  a  company  for  the 
more  ready  extinguishing  of  fires,  and  mutual  assistance  in 
removing  and  securing  of  goods  when  in  danger.  Associates 
in  this  scheme  were  presently  found,  amounting  to  thirty. 
Our  articles  of  agreement  obliged  every  member  to  keep 
always  in  good  order,  and  fit  for  use,  a  certain  number  of 
leather  buckets,  with  strong  bags  and  baskets)  for  packing 
and  transporting  of  goods),  which  were  to  be  brought  to  every 
fire  ;  and  we  agreed  to  meet  once  a  month  and  spend  a  social 
evening  together,  in  discoursing  and  communicating  such 


104  BENJAMIN"   FRANKLIN. 

ideas  as  occurred  to  us  upon  the  subject  of  fires,  as  might  be 
useful  in  our  conduct  on  such  occasions. 

The  utility  of  this  institution  soon  appeared,  and  many  more 
desiring  to  be  admitted  than  we  thought  convenient  for  one 
company,  they  were  advised  to  form  another,  which  was  ac 
cordingly  done  ;  and  this  went  on,  one  new  company  being 
formed  after  another,  till  they  became  so  numerous  as  to  in 
clude  most  of  the  inhabitants  who  were  men  of  property  ;  and 
now,  at  the  time  of  my  writing  this,  though  upward  of  fifty 
years  since  its  establishment,  that  which  I  first  formed,  called 
the  Union  Fire  Company,  still  subsists  and  flourishes,  though 
the  first  members  are  all  deceased  but  myself  and  one,  who  is 
older  by  a  year  than  I  am.  The  small  fines  that  have  been 
paid  by  members  for  absence  at  the  monthly  meetings  have 
been  applied  to  the  purchase  of  fire-engines,  ladders,  fire- 
hooks,  and  other  useful  implements  for  each  company,  so  that 
I  question  whether  there  is  a  city  in  the  world  better  provided 
with  the  means  of  putting  a  stop  to  beginning  conflagrations  ; 
and,  in  fact,  since  these  institutions,  the  city  has  never  lost  by 
fire  more  than  one  or  two  houses  at  a  time,  and  the  flames 
have  often  been  extinguished  before  the  house  in  which  they 
began  has  been  half  consumed. 

In  1739  arrived  among  us  from  Ireland  the  Eeverend  Mr. 
Whitefield,  who  had  made  himself  remarkable  there  as  an  itin 
erant  preacher.  He  was  at  first  permitted  to  preach  in  some  of 
our  churches  ;  but  the  clergy,  taking  a  dislike  to  him,  soon  re 
fused  him  their  pulpits,  and  he  was  obliged  to  preach  in  the 
fields.  The  multitudes  of  all  sects  and  denominations  that 
attended  his  sermons  were  enormous,  and  it  was  matter  of 
speculation  to  me,  who  was  one  of  the  number,  to  observe  the 
extraordinary  influence  of  his  oratory  on  his  hearers,  and  how 
much  they  admired  and  respected  him,  notwithstanding  his 
common  abuse  of  them,  by  assuring  them  they  were  naturally 
half  beasts  and  half  devils.  It  was  wonderful  to  see  the 
change  soon  made  in  the  manners  of  our  inhabitants.  From 
being  thoughtless  or  indifferent  about  religion,  it  seemed  as 
if  all  the  world  were  growing  religious,  so  that  one  could  not 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  105 

walk  through  the  town  in  an  evening  without  hearing  psalms 
sung  in  different  families  of  every  street. 

And  it  being  found  inconvenient  to  assemble  in  the  open 
air,  subject  to  its  inclemencies,  the  building  of  a  house  to 
meet  in  was  no  sooner  proposed,  and  persons  appointed  to 
receive  contributions,  but  sufficient  sums  were  soon  received 
to  procure  the  ground  and  erect  the  building,  which  was  one 
hundred  feet  long  and  seventy  broad,  about  the  size  of  West 
minster  Hall  ;'  and  the  work  was  carried  on  with  such  spirit 
as  to  be  finished  in  a  much  shorter  time  than  could  have  been 
expected.  Both  house  and  ground  were  vested  in  trustees, 
expressly  for  the  use  of  any  preacher  of  any  religious  persua 
sion  who  might  desire  to  say  something  to  the  people  of  Phila 
delphia  ;  the  design  in  building  not  being  to  accommodate 
any  particular  sect,  but  the  inhabitants  in  general  ;  so  that 
even  if  the  Mufti  of  Constantinople  were  to  send  a  missionary 
to  preach  Mohammedanism  to  us,  he  would  find  a  pulpit  at 
his  service. 

Mr.  Whitefield,  in  leaving  us,  went  preaching  all  the  way 
through  the  colonies  to  Georgia.  The  settlement  of  that 
province  had  lately  been  begun,  but.  instead  of  being  made 
with  hardy,  industrious  husbandmen,  accustomed  to  labor, 
the  only  people  fit  for  such  an  enterprise,  it  was  with  families 
of  broken  shop-keepers  and  other  insolvent  debtors,  many  of 
indolent  and  idle  habits,  taken  out  of  the  jails,  who,  being  set 
down  in  the  woods,  unqualified  for  clearing  land,  and  unable 
to  endure  the  hardships  of  a  new  settlement,  perished  in  num 
bers,  leaving  many  helpless  children  unprovided  for.  The 
sight  of  their  miserable  situation  inspired  the  benevolent 
heart  of  Mr.  Whitetield  with  the  idea  of  building  an  Orphan 
House  there,  in  which  they  might  be  supported  and  educated. 
Returning  northward,  he  preached  up  this  charity,  and  made 
large  collections,  for  his  eloquence  had  a  wonderful  power 
over  the  hearts  and  purses  of  his  hearers,  of  which  I  myself 
was  an  instance. 

1.  A  celebrated  hall  in  London,  adjoining  the  Parliament  buildings. 


106  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN-. 

I  did  not  disapprove  of  the  design,  but,  as  Georgia  was  then 
destitute  of  materials  and  workmen,  and  it  was  proposed  to 
send  them  from  Philadelphia  at  a  great  expense,  I  thought  it 
would  have  been  better  to  have  built  the  house  here,  and 
brought  the  children  to  it.  This  I  advised  ;  but  he  was  reso 
lute  in  his  first  project,  rejected  my  counsel,  and  I  therefore 
refused  to  contribute.  I  happened  soon  after  to  attend  one  of 
his  sermons,  in  the  course  of  which  I  perceived  he  intended  to 
finish  with  a  collection,  and  I  silently  resolved  he  should  get 
nothing  from  me.  I  had  in  my  pocket  a  handful  of  copper 
money,  three  or  four  silver  dollars,  and  five  pistoles  in  gold. 
As  he  proceeded  I  began  to  soften,  and  concluded  to  give  the 
coppers.  Another  stroke  of  his  oratory  made  me  ashamed  of 
that,  and  determined  me  to  give  the  silver  ;  and  he  finished  so 
admirably,  that  I  emptied  my  pockets  wholly  into  the  collector's 
dish,  gold  and  all.  At  this  sermon  there  was  also  one  of  our 
club,  who,  being  of  my  sentiments  respecting  the  building  in 
Georgia,  and  suspecting  a  collection  might  be  intended,  had, 
by  precaution,  emptied  his  pockets  before  he  came  from  home. 
Towards  the  conclusion  of  the  discourse,  however,  he  felt  a 
strong  desire  to  give,  and  applied  to  a  neighbor,  who  stood 
near  him,  to  borrow  some  money  for  the  purpose.  The  appli 
cation  was  unfortunately  [made]  to  perhaps  the  only  man  in 
the  company  who  had  the  firmness  not  to  be  affected  by  the 
preacher.  His  answer  was:  "At  any  oilier  time,  Friend 
Hopkimon,  I  would  lend  to  thee  freely;  but  not  now,  for  thee 
seems  to  be  out  of  thy  right  senses. " 

Some  of  Mr.  "Whitefield's  enemies  affected  to  suppose  that 
he  would  apply  these  collections  to  his  own  private  emolu 
ment  ;  but  I,  who  was  intimately  acquainted  with  him  (being 
employed  in  printing  his  Sermons  and  Journals,  etc.),  never 
had  the  least  suspicion  of  his  integrity,  but  am  to  this  day 
decidedly  of  opinion  that  he  was  in  all  his  conduct  a  perfectly 
lionest  man;  and  methinks  my  testimony  in  his  favor  ought 
to  have  the  more  weight,  as  we  had  no  religious  connection. 
He  used,  indeed,  sometimes  to  pray  for  my  conversion,  but  he 
never  had  the  satisfaction  of  believing  that  his  prayers  were 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  107 

heard.  Ours  was  a  mere  civil  friendship,  sincere  on  both 
sides,  and  lasted  to  his  death. 

The  following  instance  will  show  something  of  the  terms 
on  which  we  stood.  Upon  one  of  his  arrivals  from  England 
at  Boston,  he  wrote  to  me  that  he  should  come  soon  to  Phila 
delphia,  but  knew  not  where  he  could  lodge  when  there,  as  he 
understood  his  old  friend  and  host,  Mr.  Benezet,  was  removed 
to  Germantown.  My  answer  was:  "You  know  my  house; 
if  you  can  make  shift  with  its  scanty  accommodations,  yon 
will  be  most  heartily  welcome."  He  replied,  that  if  I  mndu 
that  kind  offer  for  Christ's  sake,  I  should  not  miss  of  a  re 
ward.  And  I  returned :  "Don't  let  me  be  mistaken;  it  was 
not  for  Christ's  sake,  but  for  your  sake."  One  of  our 
common  acquaintance  jocosely  remarked,  that,  knowing  it  to 
be  the  custom  of  the  saints,  when  they  received  any  favor,  to 
shift  the  burden  of  the  obligation  from  off  their  own  shoul 
ders,  and  place  it  in  heaven,  I  had  contrived  to  fix  it  on  earth. 

The  last  time  I  saw  Mr.  Whitefield  was  in  London,  when  he 
consulted  me  about  his  Orphan  House  concern,  and  his  pur 
pose  of  appropriating  it  to  the  establishment  of  a  college. 

He  had  a  loud  and  clear  voice,  and  articulated  his  words 
and  sentences  so  perfectly,  that  he  might  be  heard  and  under 
stood  at  a  great  distance,  especially  as  his  auditories,  however 
numerous,  observed  the  most  exact  silence.  He  preached  one 
evening  from  the  top  of  the  Court-house  steps,  which  are  in 
the  middle  of  Market  Street,  and  on  the  west  side  of  Second 
Street,  which  crosses  it  at  right  angles>/  Both  streets  were 
filled  with  his  hearers  to  a  considerable  distance.  Being 
among  the  hindmost  in  Market  Street,  I  had  the  curiosity  to 
learn  how  far  he  could  be  heard,  by  retiring  backwards  down 
the  street  towards  the  river ;  and  I  found  his  voice  distinct 
till  I  came  near  Front  Street,  when  some  noise  in  that  street 
obscured  it.  Imagining  then  a  semicircle,  of  which  my  dis 
tance  should  be  the  radius,  and  that  it  were  filled  with  audi 
tors,  to  each  of  whom  I  allowed  two  square  feet,  I  computed 
that  he  might  well  be  heard  by  more  than  thirty  thousand. 
This  reconciled  me  to  the  newspaper  accounts  of  his  having 


108  BENJAMIN    FRAXKLItf. 

preached  to  twenty-five  thousand  people  in  the  fields,  and  to 
the  ancient  histories  of  generals  haranguing  whole  armies,  of 
which  I  had  sometimes  doubted. 

By  hearing  him  often,  I  came  to  distinguish  easily  between 
sermons  newly  composed,  and  those  which  he  had  often 
preached  in  the  course  of  his  travels.  His  delivery  of  the 
latter  was  so  improved  by  frequent  repetitions  that  every 
accent,  every  emphasis,  every  modulation  of  voice,  was  so 
perfectly  well  turned  and  well  placed,  that,  without  being  in 
terested  in  the  subject,  one  could  not  help  being  pleased  with 
the  discourse  ;  a  pleasure  of  much  the  same  kind  with  that 
received  from  an  excellent  piece  of  music.  This  is  an  advan 
tage  itinerant  preachers  have  over  those  who  are  stationary, 
as  the  latter  cannot  well  improve  their  delivery  of  a  sermon 
by  so  many  rehearsals. 

His  writing  and  printing  from  time  to  time  gave  great  ad 
vantage  to  his  enemies ;  unguarded  expressions,  and  even 
erroneous  opinions,  delivered  in  preaching,  might  have  been 
afterwards  explained  or  qualified  by  supposing  others  that  might 
have  accompanied  them,  or  they  might  have  been  denied  ;  but 
lit&ra  scripta  manet.1  Critics  attacked  his  writings  violently, 
and  with  so  much  appearance  of  reason  as  to  diminish  the 
number  of  his  votaries  and  prevent  their  increase  ;  so  that  I 
am  of  opinion  if  he  had  never  written  anything,  he  would 
have  left  behind  him  a  much  more  numerous  and  important 
sect,  and  his  reputation  might  in  that  case  have  been  still 
growing,  even  after  his  death,  as  there  being  nothing  of  his 
writing  on  which  to  found  a  censure  and  give  him  a  lower 
character,  his  proselytes  would  be  left  at  liberty  to  feign  for 
him  as  great  a  variety  of  excellences  as  their  enthusiastic  ad 
miration  might  wish  him  to  have  possessed.2 

My  business  was  now  continually  augmenting,  and  my  cir 
cumstances  growing  daily  easier,  my  newspaper  having  be 
come  very  profitable,  as  being  for  a  time  almost  the  only  one 


1.  That  which  is  written  remains. 

2.  For  a  good  account  of  Whitefield's  character  and  labors,  see  Lecky's 
"  History  of  England  in  the  Eighteenth  Century,"  vol.  ii.  ch.  9. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  109 

in  this  and  the  neighboring  provinces.  I  experienced,  too,  the 
truth  of  the  observation,  "  that  after  getting  the  first  hun 
dred  pound,  it  is  more  easy  to  get  tlie  second,"  money  itself 
being  of  a  prolific  nature. 

The  partnership  at  Carolina  having  succeeded,  I  was  en 
couraged  to  engage  in  others,  and  to  promote  several  of  my 
workmen,  who  had  behaved  well,  by  establishing  them  with 
printing-houses  in  different  colonies,  on  the  same  terms  as 
that  in  Carolina.  Most  of  them  did  well,  being  enabled  at 
the  end  of  our  term,  six  years,  to  purchase  the  types  of  me 
and  go  on  working  for  themselves,  by  which  means  several 
families  were  raised.  Partnerships  often  finish  in  quarrels  ; 
but  I  was  happy  in  this,  that  mine  were  all  carried  on  and 
ended  amicably,  owing,  I  think,  a  good  deal  to  the  precaution 
of  having  very  explicitly  settled,  in  our  articles,  everything 
to  be  done  by  or  expected  from  each  partner,  so  that  there 
was  nothing  to  dispute,  which  precaution  I  would  therefore 
recommend  to  all  who  enter  into  partnership ;  for,  whatever 
esteem  partners  may  have  for,  and  confidence  in  each  other 
at  the  time  of  the  contract,  little  jealousies  and  disgusts  may 
arise,  with  ideas  of  inequality  in  the  care  and  burden  of  the 
business,  etc.,  which  are  attended  often  with  breach  of  friend 
ship  and  of  the  connection,  perhaps  with  lawsuits  and  other 
disagreeable  consequences.  v  - 

I  had,  on  the  whole,  abundant  reason  to  be  satisfied  with 
my  being  established  in  Pennsylvania.  There  were,  however, 
two  things  which  I  regretted,  there  being  no  provision  for 
defense,  nor  for  a  complete  education  of  youth ;  no  militia, 
nor  any  college.  I  therefore,  in  1743,  drew  up  a  proposal  for 
establishing  an  academy  ;  and  at  that  time,  thinking  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Peters,  who  was  out  of  employ,  a  fit  person  to 
superintend  such  an  institution,  I  communicated  the  project 
to  him  ;  but  he,  having  more  profitable  views  in  the  service  of 
the  proprietaries,  which  succeeded,  declined  the  undertaking  ; 
and,  not  knowing  another  at  that  time  suitable  for  such  a 
trust,  I  let  the  scheme  lie  a  while  dormant.  I  succeeded  bet 
ter  the  next  year,  1744,  in  proposing  and  establishing  a  Philo- 


110  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

sopliical  Society.  The  paper  I  wrote  for  that  purpose  will  be 
found  among  my  writings,  when  collected.1 

"With  respect  to  defense,  Spain  having  been  several  years  at 
war  against  Great  Britain,  and  being  at  length  joined  by 
France,  which  brought  us  into  great  danger  ;  and  the  labored 
and  long-continued  endeavor  of  our  governor,  Thomas,  to 
prevail  with  our  Quaker  Assembly  to  pass  a  militia  law,  and 
make  other  provisions  for  the  security  of  the  province,  having 
proved  abortive,  I  determined  to  try  what  might  be  done  by 
a  voluntary  association  of  the  people.  To  promote  this,  I 
first  wrote  and  published  a  pamphlet,  entitled  PLAIN  TRUTH, 
in  which  I  stated  our  defenseless  situation  in  strong  lights, 
with  the  necessity  of  union  and  discipline  for  our  defense, 
and  promised  to  propose  in  a  'few  days  an  association,  to  be 
generally  signed  for  that  purpose.  The  pamphlet  had  a  sud 
den  and  surprising  effect.2  I  was  called  upon  for  the  instru 
ment  of  association,  and  having  settled  the  draft  of  it  with  a 
few  friends,  I  appointed  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  in  the  large 
building  before  mentioned.  The  house  was  pretty  full;  I  had 
prepared  a  number  of  printed  copies,  and  provided  pens  and 
ink  dispersed  all  over  the  room.  I  harangued  them  a  little 
on  the  subject,  read  the  paper,  and  explained  it,  and  then  dis 
tributed  the  copies,  which  were  eagerly  signed,  not  the  least 
objection  being  made. 

When  the  company  separated,  and  the  papers  were  col 
lected,  we  found  above  twelve  hundred  hands;  and,  other 
copies  being  dispersed  in  the  country,  the  subscribers 
amounted  at  length  to  upward  of  ten  thousand.  These  all 


1.  This  paper  was  entitled  "  A  Proposal  for  Promoting  Useful  Knowledge 
among  the  British  Plantations  in  America."    The  society  still  exists,  as  the 
American  Philosophical  Society. 

2.  The  pamphlet  was  announced  in  Franklin's  newspaper,  Nov.  V2.  1747, 
as  follows:  "Next  Saturday  will  be  published   'Plain  Truth;  or,   Serious 
Considerations  on  the  Present  State  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  and  Province 
of  Pennsylvania,  by  a  tradesman  of  Philadelphia.'  "    On  the  title-page  was 
a  rude  cut  representing  the  wagoner  beseeching  Hercules  for  aid.    The 
emergency  was  an  important  one;  already  French  and  Spanish  privateers 
had  appeared  in  the  Delaware,  and  two  houses  had  been  plundered.  Frank 
lin^  pamphlet  was  answered  by  one  called  "Necessary  Truth,'1  and  a  bitter 
controversy  followed,  which  in' the  course  of  the  year  brought  forth  several 
pamphlet*  and  sermons  on  the  lawfulness  of  defending  what  is  one's  own. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  Ill 

furnished  themselves  as  soon  as  they  could  with  arms,  formed 
themselves  into  companies  and  regiments,  chose  their  own 
officers,  and  met  every  week  to  be  instructed  in  the  manual 
exercise,  and  other  parts  of  military  discipline.  The  women, 
by  subscriptions  among  themselves,  provided  silk  colors, 
which  they  presented  to  the  companies,  painted  with  different 
devices  and  mottoes,  which  I  supplied. 

The  officers  of  the  companies  composing  the  Philadelphia 
regiment,  being  met,  chose  me  for  their  colonel;  but,  conceiv 
ing  myself  unfit,  I  declined  that  station,  and  recommended 
Mr.  Lawrence,  a  fine  person,  and  man  of  influence,  who  was 
accordingly  appointed.  I  then  proposed  a  lottery  to  defray 
the  expense  of  building  a  battery  below  the  town,  and  fur 
nishing  it  with  cannon.1  It  filled  expeditiously,  and  the 
battery  was  soon  erected,  the  merlons  being  framed  of  logs 
and  filled  with  earth.  We  bought  some  old  cannon  from 
Boston,  but,  these  not  being  sufficient,  we  wrote  to  England 
for  more,  soliciting,  at  the  same  time,  our  proprietaries  for 
some  assistance,  though  without  much  expectation  of  obtain 
ing  it. 

Meanwhile,  Colonel  Lawrence,  William  Allen,  Abram  Tay 
lor,  Esq.,  and  myself  were  sent  to  New  York  by  the  associ- 
ators,  commissioned  to  borrow  some  cannon  of  Governor 
Clinton.  He  at  first  refused  us  peremptorily;  but  at  dinner 
with  his  council,  where  there  was  great  drinking  of  Madeira 
wine,  as  the  custom  of  that  place  then  wTas,  he  softened  by 
degrees,  and  said  he  would  lend  us  six.  After  a  few  more 
bumpers  he  advanced  to  ten;  and  at  length  he  very  good- 
naturedly  conceded  eighteen.  They  were  fine  cannon,  eighteen - 
pounders,  with  their  carriages,  which  we  soon  transported 
and  mounted  on  our  battery,  where  the  associators  kept  a 


1.  Lotteries  were  resorted  to  for  carrying  on  public  and  philanthropic 
enterprises  almost  as  commonly  as  the  church-fairs  of  to-day.  '•  Whenever 
a  clumsy  bridge  was  to  be  thrown  across  a  little  stream,  a  public  building 
enlarged,  a  school-house  built,  a  street  paved,  a  road  repaired,  a  manufac 
turing  company  to  be  aided,  a  church  assisted,  or  a  college  treasury  iv- 
plenished,  a  lottery  bill  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  a  wheel  procured,  a 
notice  put  in  the  papers,  and  often  in  a  few  weeks  the  needed  moiiev  was 
raised."— See  McMaster's  History  of  the  People  of  the  U.  S  ,  vol.  i.  p.  588. 


112  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

nightly  guard  while  the  war  lasted,  and  among  the  rest  I 
regularly  took  my  turn  of  duty  there  as  a  common  soldier.1 

My  activity  in  these  operations  was  agreeable  to  the  gov 
ernor  and  council;  they  took  me  into  confidence,  and  I  was 
consulted  by  them  in  every  measure  wherein  their  concurrence 
was  thought  useful  to  the  association.  Calling  in  the  aid  of 
religion,  I  proposed  to  them  the  proclaiming  a  fast,  to  pro 
mote  reformation,  and  implore  the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  our 
undertaking.  They  embraced  the  motion;  but,  as  it  was  the 
first  fast  ever  thought  of  in  the  province,  the  secretary  had  no 
precedent  from  which  to  draw  the  proclamation.  My  educa 
tion  in  New  England,  where  a  fast  is  proclaimed  every  year, 
was  here  of  some  advantage:  I  drew  it  in  the  accustomed 
style,  it  was  translated  into  German,  printed  in  both  lan 
guages,  and  divulged  through  the  province.  This  gave  the 
clergy  of  the  different  sects  an  opportunity  of  influencing 
their  congregations  to  join  in  the  association,  and  it  would 
probably  have  been  general  among  all  but  Quakers  if  the 
peace  had  not  soon  intervened.  -^ 

It  was  thought  by  some  of  my  friends  that,  by  my  activity 
in  these  affairs,  I  should  offend  that  sect,  and  thereby  lose 
my  interest  in  the  Assembly  of  the  province,  where  they 
formed  a  great  majority.  A  young  gentleman  who  had  like 
wise  some  friends  in  the  House,  and  wished  to  succeed  me  as 
their  clerk,  acquainted  me  that  it  was  decided  to  displace  me 
at  the  next  election;  and  he,  therefore,  in  good  will,  advised 
me  to  resign,  as  more  consistent  with  my  honor  than  being 
turned  out.  My  answer  to  him  was,  that  I  had  read  or  heard 
of  some  public  man  who  made  it  a  rule  never  to  ask  for  an 
office,  and  never  to  refuse  one  when  offered  to  him.  "I 
approve,"  says  I,  "of  his  rule,  and  will  practice  it  with  a 
small  addition:  I  shall  never  ask,  never  refuse,  nor  ever 
resign  an  office.  If  they  will  have  my  office  of  clerk  to  dispose 
of  to  another,  they  shall  take  it  from  me.  I  will  not,  by 
giving  it  up,  lose  my  right  of  some  time  or  other  making 

1.  Peace  was  brought  about  in  Europe  by  the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  ia 
1748,  thus  ending  the  trouble  in  the  colonies. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  113 

reprisals  on  my  adversaries."  I  heard,  however,  no  more  of 
this;  I  was  chosen  again  unanimously  as  usual  at  the  next 
election.  Possibly,  as  they  disliked  my  late  intimacy  with  the 
members  of  council,  who  had  joined  the  governors  in  all  the 
disputes  about  military  preparations,  with  which  the  House 
had  long  been  harassed,  they  might  have  been  pleased  if  I 
would  voluntarily  have  left  them;  but  they  did  not  care  to 
displace  me  on  account  merely  of  my  zeal  for  the  association, 
and  they  could  not  well  give  another  reason. 

Indeed  I  had  some  cause  to  believe  that  the  defense  of  the 
country  was  not  disagreeable  to  any  of  them,  provided  they 
were  not  required  to  assist  in  it.  And  I  found  that  a  much 
greater  number  of  them  than  I  could  have  imagined,  though 
against  offensive  war,  were  clearly  for  the  defensive.  Many 
pamphlets  pro  and  con  were  published  on  the  subject,  and 
some  by  good  Quakers,  in  favor  of  defense,  which  I  believe 
convinced  most  of  their  younger  people. 

A  transaction  in  our  fire  company  gave  me  some  insight 
into  their  prevailing  sentiments.  It  had  been  proposed  that 
we  should  encourage  the  scheme  for  building  a  battery  by 
laying  out  the  present  stock,  then  about  sixty  pounds,  in 
tickets  of  the  lottery.  By  our  rules,  no  money  could  be  dis 
posed  of  till  the  next  meeting  after  the  proposal.  The  com 
pany  consisted  of  thirty  members,  of  which  twenty-two  were 
Quakers,  and  eight  only  of  other  persuasions.  We  eight 
punctually  attended  the  meeting  ;  but,  though  we  thought  that 
some  of  the  Quakers  would  join  us,  we  were  by  no  means  sure 
of  a  majority.  Only  one  Quaker,  Mr.  James  Morris,  appeared 
to  oppose  the  measure.  He  expressed  much  sorrow  that  it 
had  ever  been  proposed,  as  he  said  Friends  were  all  against 
it,  and  it  would  create  such  discord  as  might  break  up  the 
company.  We  told  him  that  we  saw  no  reason  for  that ;  we 
were  the  minority,  and  if  Friends  were  against  the  measure, 
and  outvoted  us,  we  must  and  should,  agreeably  to  the  usage 
of  all  societies,  submit.  When  the  hour  for  business  arrived  it 
was  moved  to  put  the  vote  ;  he  allowed  we  might  then  do  it 
by  the  rules,  but,  as  he  could  assure  us  that  a  number  of 


114  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

members  intended  to  be  present  for  the  purpose  of  opposing 
it,  it  would  be  but  candid  to  allow  a  little  time  for  their  ap 
pearing. 

While  we  were  disputing  this,  a  waiter  came  to  tell  me  two 
gentlemen  below  desired  to  speak  with  inc.  I  went  down, 
and  found  they  were  two  of  our  Quaker  members.  They  told 
me  there  were  eight  of  them  assembled  at  a  tavern  just  by  ; 
that  they  were  determined  to  come  and  vote  with  us  if  there 
should  be  occasion,  which  they  hoped  would  not  be  the  case, 
and  desired  we  would  not  call  for  their  assistance  if  we  could 
do  without  it,  as  their  voting  for  such  a  measure  might  em 
broil  them  with  their  elders  and  friends.  Being  thus  secure 
of  a  majority,  I  went  up,  and  after  a  little  seeming  hesitation, 
agreed  to  a  delay  of  another  hour.  This  Mr.  Morris  allowed 
to  be  extremely  fair.  Not  one  of  his  opposing  friends  ap 
peared,  at  which  he  expressed  great  surprise  ;  and,  at  the 
expiration  of  the  hour,  we  carried  the  resolution  eight  to 
one ;  and  as,  of  the  twenty-two  Quakers,  eight  were  ready 
to  vote  with  us,  and  thirteen,  by  their  absence,  manifested 
that  they  were  not  inclined  to  oppose  the  measure,  I  after 
ward  estimated  the  proportion  of  Quakers  sincerely  against 
defense  as  one  to  twenty-one  only  ;  for  these  were  all  regular 
members  of  that  society,  and  in  good  reputation  among  them, 
and  had  due  notice  of  what  was  proposed  at  that  meeting. 

The  honorable  and  learned  Mr.  Logan,  who  had  always 
been  of  that  sect,  was  one  who  wrote  an  address  to  them, 
declaring  his  approbation  of  defensive  war,  and  supporting 
his  opinion  by  many  strong  arguments.  He  put  into  my 
hands  sixty  pounds  to  be  laid  out  in  lottery  tickets  for  the 
battery,  with  directions  to  apply  what  prizes  might  be  drawn 
wholly  to  that  service.  He  told  me  the  following  anecdote  of 
his  old  master,  William  Penn,  respecting  defense.  He  came 
over  from  England,  when  a  young  man,  with  that  proprietary, 
and  as  his  secretary.  It  was  war-time,  and  their  ship  was 
chased  by  an  armed  vessel,  supposed  to  be  an  enemy.  Their 
captain  prepared  for  defense  ;  but  told  William  Penn,  and  his 
company  of  Quakers,  that  he  did  not  expect  their  assistance, 


BEXJAM1N   FRANKLIN".  115 

and  they  might  retire  into  the  cabin,  which  they  did,  except 
James  Logan,  who  chose  to  stay  upon  deck,  and  was  quartered 
to  a  gun.  The  supposed  enemy  proved  a  friend,  so  there 
was  no  fighting ;  but  when  the  secretary  went  down  to  com 
municate  the  intelligence,  William  Penn  rebuked  him  severely 
for  staying  upon  deck,  and  undertaking  to  assist  in  defending 
the  vessel,  contrary  to  the  principles  of  Friends,  especially 
as  it  had  not  been  required  by  the  captain.  This  reproof, 
being  before  all  the  company,  piqued  the  secretary,  who 
answered  :  "  /  being  thy  servant,  ivhy  did  thee  not  order  me 
to  come  down  ?  But  thee  was  willing  enough  that  1  should 
stay  and  help  to  fight  the  ship  when  thee  thought  there  was 
danger" 

My  being  many  years  in  the  Assembly,  the  majority  of 
which  were  constantly  Quakers,  gave  me  frequent  opportuni 
ties  of  seeing  the  embarrassment  given  them  by  their  prin 
ciple  against  war,  whenever  application  was  made  to  them, 
by  order  of  the  crown,  to  grant  aids  for  military  purposes. 
They  were  unwilling  to  offend  government,  on  the  one  hand, 
by  a  direct  refusal ;  and  their  friends,  the  body  of  the 
Quakers,  on  the  other,  by  a  compliance  contrary  to  their 
principles ;  hence  a  variety  of  evasions  to  avoid  complying, 
and  modes  of  disguising  the  compliance  when  it  became  un 
avoidable.  The  common  mode  at  last  was,  to  grant  money 
under  the  phrase  of  its  being  "for  the  king's  use,''1  and  never 
to  inquire  how  it  was  applied. 

But,  if  the  demand  was  not  directly  from  the  crown,  that 
phrase  was  found  not  so  proper,  and  some  other  was  to  be 
invented.  As,  when  powder  was  wanting  (I  think  it  was  for 
the  garrison  at  Louisburg),  and  the  government  of  New  Eng 
land  solicited  a  grant  of  some  from  Pennsylvania,  which  was 
much  urged  on  the  House  by  Governor  Thomas,  they  could 
not  grant  money  to  buy  powder,  because  that  was  an  in 
gredient  of  war ;  but  they  voted  an  aid  to  New  England  of 
three  thousand  pounds,  to  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
governor,  and  appropriated  it  for  the  purchasing  of  bread, 
flour,  wheat,  or  other  grain.  Some  of  the  council,  desirous 


116  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

of  giving  the  House  still  further  embarrassment,  advised  the 
governor  not  to  accept  provision,  as  not  being  the  thing  he  had 
demanded;  but  he  replied  :  "I  shall  take  the  money,  for  I 
understand  very  well  their  meaning ;  other  grain  is  gun 
powder,"  which  he  accordingly  bought,  and  they  never  ob 
jected  to  it. 

It  was  in  allusion  to  this  fact  that,  when  in  our  fire  com 
pany  we  feared  the  success  of  our  proposal  in  favor  of  the 
lottery,  and  I  had  said  to  my  friend  Mr.  Syng,  one  of  our 
members:  "If  we  fail,  let  us  move  the  purchase  of  a  fire- 
engine  with  the  money  ;  the  Quakers  can  have  no  objection  to 
that ;  and  then,  if  you  nominate  me  and  I  you  as  a  committee 
for  that  purpose,  we  will  buy  a  great  gun,  which  is  certainly 
a.  fire-engine."  "I  see,"  says  he,  "you  have  improved  by 
being  so  long  in  the  Assembly  ;  your  equivocal  project  would 
be  just  a  match  for  their  wheat  or  other  grain" 

These  embarrassments  that  the  Quakers  suffered  from  hav 
ing  established  and  published  it  as  one  of  their  principles  that 
no  kind  of  war  was  lawful,  and  which,  being  once  published, 
they  could  not  afterwards,  however  they  might  change  their 
minds,  easily  get  rid  of,  reminds  me  of  what  I  think  a  more 
prudent  conduct  in  another  sect  among  us,  that  of  the  Dun- 
kers.  I  was  acquainted  with  one  of  its  founders,  Michael 
Welfare,  soon  after  it  appeared.  He  complained  to  me  that 
they  were  griveously  calumniated  by  the  zealots  of  other 
persuasions,  and  charged  with  abominable  principles  and 
practices,  to  which  they  were  utter  strangers.  I  told  hirn 
this  had  always  been  the  case  with  new  sects,  and  that,  to 
put  a  stop  to  such  abuse,  I  imagined  it  might  be  well  to  pub 
lish  the  articles  of  their  belief,  and  the  rules  of  their  disci 
pline.  He  said  that  it  had  been  proposed  among  them,  but 
not  agreed  to,  for  this  reason  :  "When  we  were  first  drawn 
together  as  a  society,"  says  he,  "it  had  pleased  God  to  en 
lighten  our  minds  so  far  as  to  see  that  some  doctrines,  which 
we  once  esteemed  truths,  were  errors  ;  and  that  others,  which 
we  had  esteemed  errors,  were  real  truths.  From  time  to  time 
He  has  been  pleased  to  afford  us  farther  light,  and  our  prin- 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  117 

ciples  have  been  improving,  and  our  errors  diminishing.  Now 
we  are  not  sure  that  we  are  arrived  at  the  end  of  this  pro 
gression,  and  at  the  perfection  of  spiritual  or  theological 
knowledge  ;  and  we  fear  that,  if  we  should  once  print  our 
confession  of  faith,  we  should  feel  ourselves  as  if  bound  and 
confined  by  it,  and  perhaps  be  unwilling  to  receive  farther 
improvement,  and  our  successors  still  more  so,  as  conceiving 
what  we  their  elders  and  founders  had  done,  to  be  something 
sacred,  never  to  be  departed  from." 

This  modesty  in  a  sect  is  perhaps  a  singular  instance  in  the 
history  of  mankind,  every  other  sect  supposing  itself  in  pos 
session  of  all  truth,  and  that  those  who  differ  are  so  far  in  the 
wrong ;  like  a  man  traveling  in  foggy  weather,  those  at  some 
distance  before  him  on  the  road  he  sees  wrapped  up  in  the 
fog,  as  well  as  those  behind  him,  and  also  the  people  in  the 
fields  on  each  side,  but  near  him  all  appears  clear,  though  in 
truth  he  is  as  much  in  the  fog  as  any  of  them.  To  avoid  this 
kind  of  embarrassment,  the  Quakers  have  of  late  years  been 
gradually  declining  the  public  service  in  the  Assembly  and  in 
the  magistracy,  choosing  rather  to  quit  their  power  than  their 
principle. 

In  order  of  time,  I  should  have  mentioned  before,  that 
having,  in  1742,  invented  an  open  stove1  for  the  better  warm 
ing  of  rooms,  and  at  the  same  time  saving  fuel,  as  the  fresh 
air  admitted  was  warmed  in  entering,  I  made  a  present  of  the 
model  to  Mr.  Robert  Grace,  one  of  my  early  friends,  who, 
having  an  iron  furnace,  found  the  casting  of  the  plates  for 
these  stoves  a  profitable  thing,  as  they  were  growing  in  de 
mand.  To  promote  that  demand,  I  wrote  and  published  a 
pamphlet,  entitled  "  An  Account  of  the  new-invented  Penn 
sylvania  Fireplaces  ;  wherein  their  Construction  and  Manner 
of  Operation  is  particularly  explained;  their  Advantages 
above  every  other  Method  of  warming  Rooms  demonstrated  ; 
and  all  Objections  that  have  been  raised  against  the  Use  of 

1.  Universally  known  as  the  "  Franklin  Stove,"  and  still  in  very  general 
use.  Mr.  Parton  describes  it  as  the  beginning  of  "  the  American  stove  sys 
tem,  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  industrial  world." 


118  BEKJAMIK   FRANKLIK. 

them  answered  and  obviated"  etc.  This  pamphlet  had  a 
good  effect.  Governor  Thomas  was  so  pleased  with  the  con 
struction  of  this  stove,  as  described  in  it,  that  he  offered  to 
give  me  a  patent  for  the  sole  vending  of  them  for  a  term  of 
years  ;  but  I  declined  it  from  a  principle  which  has  ever 
weighed  with  me  on  such  occasions,  viz. ,  That,  as  we  enjoy 
great  advantages  from  the  inventions  of  others,  we  should  be 
glad  of  an  opportunity  to  serve  others  by  any  invention  of 
ours  ;  and  this  we  should  do  freely  and  generously. 

An  ironmonger  in  London,  however,  assuming  a  good  deal 
of  my  pamphlet,  and  working  it  up  into  his  own,  and  making 
some  small  changes  in  the  machine,  which  rather  hurt  its 
operation,  got  a  patent  for  it  there,  and  made,  as  I  was  told, 
a  little  fortune  by  it.  And  this  is  not  the  only  instance  of 
patents  taken  out  for  my  inventions  by  others,  though  not 
always  with  the  same  success,  which  I  never  contested,  as 
having  no  desire  of  profiting  by  patents  myself,  and  hating 
disputes.  The  use  of  these  fireplaces  in  very  many  houses, 
both  of  this  and  the  neighboring  colonies,  has  been,  and  is,  a 
great  saving  of  wood  to  the  inhabitants. 

Peace  being  concluded,  and  the  association  business  there 
fore  at  an  end,  I  turned  my  thoughts  again  to  the  affair  of 
establishing  an  academy.  The  first  step  I  took  was  to  asso 
ciate  in  the  design  a  number  of  active  friends,  of  whom  the 
Junto  furnished  a  good  part ;  the  next  was  to  write  and  pub 
lish  a  pamphlet,  entitled  Proposals  relating  to  the  Educa 
tion  of  Youth  in  Pennsylvania.  This  I  distributed  among 
the  principal  inhabitants  gratis  ;  and  as  soon  as  I  could  sup 
pose  their  minds  a  little  prepared  by  the  perusal  of  it,  I  set  on 
foot  a  subscription  for  opening  and  supporting  an  academy : 
it  was  to  be  paid  in  quotas  yearly  for  five  years  ;  by  so  divid 
ing  it,  I  judged  the  subscription  might  be  larger,  and  I  believe 
it  was  so,  amounting  to  no  less,  if  I  remember  right,  than  five 
thousand  pounds. 

In  the  introduction  to  these  proposals,  I  stated  their  publica 
tion,  not  as  an  act  of  mine,  but  of  some  public-spirited  gentle 
men,  avoiding  as  much  as  I  could,  according  to  my  usual 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  119 

rule,1  the  presenting  myself  to  the  public  as  the  author  of  any 
scheme  for  their  benefit. 

The  subscribers,  to  carry  the  project  into  immediate  exe 
cution,  chose  out  of  their  number  twenty-four  trustees,  and 
appointed  Mr.  Francis,  then  attorney-general,  and  myself  to 
draw  up  constitutions  for  the  government  of  the  academy; 
which  being  done  and  signed,  a  house  was  hired,  masters 
engaged,  and  the  schools  opened,  I  think,  in  the  same  year, 
1749. 

The  scholars  increasing  fast,  the  house  was  soon  found  too 
small,  and  we  were  looking  out  for  a  piece  of  ground,  prop 
erly  situated,  with  intention  to  build,  when  Providence  threw 
into  our  way  a  large  house  ready  built,  which,  with  a  few 
alterations,  might  well  serve  our  purpose.  This  was  the  build 
ing  before  mentioned,  erected  by  the  hearers  of  Mr.  White- 
field,  and  was  obtained  for  us  in  the  following  manner. 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  the  contributions  to  this  building 
being  made  by  people  of  different  sects,  care  was  taken  in  the 
nomination  of  trustees,  in  whom  the  building  and  ground 
was  to  be  vested,  that  a  predominancy  should  not  be  given  to 
any  sect,  lest  in  time  that  predominancy  might  be  a  means  of 
appropriating  the  whole  to  the  use  of  such  sect,  contrary  to 
the  original  intention.  It  was  therefore  that  one  of  each  sect 
was  appointed,  viz.,  one  Church-of-England  man,  one  Pres 
byterian,  one  Baptist,  one  Moravian,  etc. ;  those,  in  case  of 
vacancy  by  death,  were  to  fill  it  by  election  from  among  the 
contributors.  The  Moravian  happened  not  to  please  his  col 
leagues,  and  on  his  death  they  resolved  to  have  no  other  of 
that  sect.  The  difficulty  then  was,  how  to  avoid  having  two 
of  some  other  sect,  by  means  of  the  new  choice. 

Several  persons  were  named,  and  for  that  reason  not  agreed 
to.  At  length  one  mentioned  me,  with  the  observation  that 
I  was  merely  an  honest  man,  and  of  no  sect  at  all,  which  pre 
vailed  with  them  to  choose  me.  The  enthusiasm  which  existed 
when  the  house  was  built  had  long  since  abated,  and  its 

1.  See  p.  77  Franklin  rarely  signed  his  name  to  his  writings,  using  some 
assumed  name,  as  "  A  Tradesman,"  or  none  at  all. 


120  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

trustees  had  not  been  able  to  procure  fresh  contributions  for 
paying  the  ground-rent,  and  discharging  some  other  debts  the 
building  had  occasioned,  which  embarrassed  them  greatly. 
Being  now  a  member  of  both  sets  of  trustees,  that  for  the 
building  and  that  for  the  academy,  I  had  a  good  opportunity 
of  negotiating  with  both,  and  brought  them  finally  to  an 
agreement,  by  which  the  trustees  for  the  building  were  to 
cede  it  to  those  of  the  academy,  the  latter  undertaking  to  dis 
charge  the  debt,  to  keep  forever  open  in  the  building  a  large 
hall  for  occasional  preachers,  according  to  the  original  inten 
tion,  and  maintain  a  free-school  for  the  instruction  of  poor 
children.  Writings  were  accordingly  drawn,  and  on  paying 
the  debts  the  trustees  of  the  academy  were  put  in  possession 
of  the  premises  ;  and  by  dividing  the  great  and  lofty  hall  into 
stories,  and  different  rooms  above  and  below  for  the  several 
schools,  and  purchasing  some  additional  ground,  the  whole 
was  soon  made  fit  for  our  purpose,  and  the  scholars  removed 
into  the  building.  The  care  and  trouble  of  agreeing  with  the 
workmen,  purchasing  materials,  and  superintending  the  work, 
fell  upon  me ;  and  I  went  through  it  the  more  cheerfully,  as 
it  did  not  then  interfere  with  my  private  business,  having  the 
year  before  taken  a  very  able,  industrious,  and  honest  partner, 
Mr.  David  Hall,  with  whose  character  I  was  well  acquainted, 
as  he  had  worked  for  me  four  years.  He  took  off  my  hands 
all  care  of  the  printing-office,  paying  me  punctually  my  share 
of  the  profits.  This  partnership  continued  eighteen  years, 
successfully  for  us  both. 

The  trustees  of  the  academy,  after  a  while,  were  incor 
porated  by  a  charter  from  the  governor;  their  funds  were 
increased  by  contributions  in  Britain  and  grants  of  land  from 
the  proprietaries,1  to  which  the  Assembly  has  since  made  con 
siderable  addition ;  and  thus  was  established  the  present 
University  of  Philadelphia.  I  have  been  continued  one  of 
its  trustees  from  the  beginning,  now  near  forty  years,  and 
have  had  the  very  great  pleasure  of  seeing  a  number  of  the 

1.  Proprietaries.— The  sons  of  William  Penn,  Thomas  and  Richard  Perm, 
who  still  held  extensive  possessions  in  Pennsylvania. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  121 

youth  who  have  received  their  education  in  it,  distinguished 
by  their  improved  abilities,  serviceable  in  public  stations,  and 
ornaments  to  their  country. 

When  I  disengaged  myself,  as  above  mentioned,  from 
private  business,  I  flattered  myself  that,  by  the  sufficient 
though  moderate  fortune  I  had  acquired,  I  had  secured  leisure 
during  the  rest  of  my  life  for  philosophical  studies  and 
amusements.  I  purchased  all  Dr.  Spence's  apparatus,  who 
had  come  from  England  to  lecture  here,  and  I  proceeded  in 
my  electrical  experiments  with  great  alacrity  ;  but  the  public, 
now  considering  me  as  a  man  of  leisure,  laid  hold  of  me  for 
their  purposes,  every  part  of  our  civil  government,  and  almost 
at  the  same  time,  imposing  some  duty  upon  me.  The  gov 
ernor  put  me  into  the  commission  of  the  peace,1  the  corpora 
tion  of  the  city  chose  me  of  the  common  council,  and  soon 
after  an  alderman  ;  and  the  citizens  at  large  chose  me  a 
burgess  to  represent  them  in  Assembly.  This  latter  station 
was  the  more  agreeable  to  me,  as  I  was  at  length  tired  with 
sitting  there  to  hear  debates,  in  which,  as  clerk,  I  could  take 
no  part,  and  which  were  often  so  unentertaining  that  I  was 
induced  to  amuse  myself  with  making  magic  squares  or  circles, 
or  anything  to  avoid  weariness  ;  and  I  conceived  my  becoming 
a  member  would  enlarge  my  power  of  doing  good.  I  would 
not,  however,  insinuate  that  my  ambition  was  not  flattered 
by  all  these  promotions ;  it  certainly  was ;  for,  considering 
my  low  beginning,  they  were  great  things  to  me ;  and  they 
were  still  more  pleasing,  as  being  so  many  spontaneous  testi 
monies  of  the  public  good  opinion,  and  by  me  entirely  un 
solicited. 

The  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  I  tried  a  little,  by  attend 
ing  a  few  courts,  and  sitting  on  the  bench  to  hear  causes  ;  but 
finding  that  more  knowledge  of  the  common  law  than  I 
possessed  was  necessary  to  act  in  that  station  with  credit,  I 
gradually  withdrew  from  it,  excusing  myself  by  my  being 
obliged  to  attend  the  higher  duties  of  a  legislator  in  the 

1.  Commission  of  the  Peace.— Office  of  justice  of  the  peace. 


122  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

Assembly.  My  election  to  this  trust  was  repeated  every  year 
for  ten  years,  without  my  ever  asking  any  elector  for  his 
vote,  or  signifying,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  any  desire  of 
being  chosen.  On  taking  my  seat  in  the  House,  my  son  was 
appointed  their  clerk. 

The  year  following,  a  treaty  being  to  be  held  with  the 
Indians  at  Carlisle,  the  governor  sent  a  message  to  the  House, 
proposing  that  they  should  nominate  some  of  their  members, 
to  be  joined  with  some  members  of  council,  as  commissioners 
for  that  purpose.  The  House  named  the  speaker  (Mr.  Norris) 
and  myself ;  and,  being  commissioned,  we  went  to  Carlisle, 
and  met  the  Indians  accordingly. 

As  those  people  are  extremely  apt  to  get  drunk,  and,  when 
so,  are  very  quarrelsome  and  disorderly,  we  strictly  forbade 
the  selling  any  liquor  to  them  ;  and  when  they  complained  of 
this  restriction,  we  told  them  that  if  they  would  continue 
sober  during  the  treaty,  we  would  give  them  plenty  of  rum 
when  business  was  over.  They  promised  this,  and  they  kept 
their  promise,  because  they  could  get  no  liquor,  and  the 
treaty  was  conducted  very  orderly,  and  concluded  to  mutual 
satisfaction.  They  then  claimed  and  received  the  rum  ;  this 
was  in  the  afternoon ;  they  were  near  one  hundred  men, 
women,  and  children,  and  were  lodged  in  temporary  cabins, 
built  in  the  form  of  a  square,  just  without  the  town.  In  the 
evening,  hearing  a  great  noise  among  them,  the  commis 
sioners  walked  out  to  see  what  was  the  matter.  We  found 
they  had  made  a  great  bonfire  in  the  middle  of  the  square ; 
they  were  all  drunk,  men  and  women,  quarreling  and  fight 
ing.  Their  dark-colored  bodies,  half  naked,  seen  only  by 
the  gloomy  light  of  the  bonfire,  running  after  and  beating 
one  another  with  firebrands,  accompanied  by  their  horrid 
yellings,  formed  a  scene  the  most  resembling  our  ideas  of 
hell  that  could  well  be  imagined  ;  there  was  no  appeasing  the 
tumult,  and  we  retired  to  our  lodging.  At  midnight  a  number 
of  them  came  thundering  at  our  door,  demanding  more  rum, 
of  which  we  took  no  notice. 

The  next  day,  sensible  they  had  misbehaved  in  giving  us 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  123 

that  disturbance,  they  sent  three  of  their  old  counselors  to 
make  their  apology.  The  orator  acknowledged  the  fault,  but 
laid  it  upon  the  rum ;  and  then  endeavored  to  excuse  the 
rum  by  saying:  "  The  Great  Spirit,  who  made  all  things, 
made  every  tiling  for  some  use,  and  whatever  use  he  designed 
anything  for,  that  use  it  should  always  be  put  to.  Now, 
when  he  made  rum,  he  said,  '  Let  this  be  for  the  Indians  to 
get  drunk  with,1  and  it  must  be  so."  And,  indeed,  if  it  be 
the  design  of  Providence  to  extirpate  these  savages  in  order 
to  make  room  for  cultivators  of  the  earth,  it  seems  not  im 
probable  that  rum  may  be  the  appointed  means.  It  has 
already  annihilated  all  the  tribes  who  formerly  inhabited  the 
sea-coast. 

In  1751,  Dr.  Thomas  Bond,  a  particular  friend  of  mine, 
conceived  the  idea  of  establishing  a  hospital  in  Philadelphia 
(a  very  beneficent  design,  which  has  been  ascribed  to  me,  but 
was  originally  his),  for  the  reception  and  cure  of  poor  sick 
persons,  whether  inhabitants  of  the  province  or  strangers. 
He  was  zealous  and  active  in  endeavoring  to  procure  sub 
scriptions  for  it,  but  the  proposal  being  a  novelty  in  America, 
and  at  first  not  well  understood,  he  met  with  but  small 
success. 

At  length  he  came  to  me  with  the  compliment  that  he  found 
there  was  no  such  thing  as  carrying  a  public-spirited  project 
through  without  my  being  concerned  in  it.  "  For,1'  says  he, 
"  I  am  often  asked  by  those  to  whom  I  propose  subscribing, 
'  Have  you  consulted  Franklin  upon  this  business  ?  And 
what  does  he  think  of  it  ? '  And  when  I  tell  them  that  I  have 
not  (supposing  it  rather  out  of  your  line),  they  do  not  sub 
scribe,  but  say  they  will  consider  of  it."  I  inquired  into  the 
nature  and  probable  utility  of  his  scheme,  and  receiving  from 
him  a  very  satisfactory  explanation,  I  not  only  subscribed  to 
it  myself,  but  engaged  heartily  in  the  design  of  procuring 
subscriptions  from  others.  Previously,  however,  to  the  solici 
tation,  I  endeavored  to  prepare  the  minds  of  the  people  by 
writing  on  the  subject  in  the  newspapers,  which  was  my  usual 
custom  in  such  cases,  but  which  he  had  omitted. 


124  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN". 

The  subscriptions  afterwards  were  more  free  and  generous  ; 
but,  beginning  to  flag,  I  saw  they  would  be  insufficient  with 
out  some  assistance  from  the  Assembly,  and  therefore  pro 
posed  to  petition  for  it,  which  was  done.  The  country  mem 
bers  did  not  at  first  relish  the  project ;  they  objected  that  it 
could  only  be  serviceable  to  the  city,  and  therefore  the  citizens 
alone  should  be  at  the  expense  of  it ;  and  they  doubted 
whether  the  citizens  themselves  generally  approved  of  it. 
My  allegation  on  the  contrary,  that  it  met  with  such  approba 
tion  as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  our  being  able  to  raise  two  thou 
sand  pounds  by  voluntary  donations,  they  considered  as  a 
most  extravagant  supposition,  and  utterly  impossible. 

On  this  I  formed  my  plan  ;  and,  asking  leave  to  bring  in  a 
bill  for  incorporating  the  contributors  according  to  the  prayer 
of  their  petition,  and  granting  them  a  blank  sum  of  money, 
which  leave  was  obtained  chiefly  on  the  consideration  that 
the  House  could  throw  the  bill  out  if  they  did  not  like  it,  I 
drew  it  so  as  to  make  the  important  clause  a  conditional  one, 
viz.:  "And  be  it  enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that 
when  the  said  contributors  shall  have  met  and  chosen  their 
managers  and  treasurer,  and  shall  have  raised  by  their  con 
tributions  a  capital  stock  of value  (the  yearly  interest 

of  which  is  to  be  applied  to  the  accommodating  of  the  sick 
poor  in  the  said  hospital,  free  of  charge  for  diet,  attendance, 
advice,  and  medicines),  and  shall  make  the  same  appear  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  speaker  of  the  Assembly  for  the  time 
being,  that  then  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  said 
speaker,  and  he  is  hereby  required,  to  sign  an  order  on  the 
provincial  treasurer  for  the  payment  of  two  thousand  pounds, 
in  two  yearly  payments,  to  the  treasurer  of  the  said  hospital, 
to  be  applied  to  the  founding,  building,  and  finishing  of  the 
same." 

This  condition  carried  the  bill  through;  for  the  members 
who  had  opposed  the  grant,  and  now  conceived  they  might 
have  the  credit  of  being  charitable  without  the  expense,  agreed 
to  its  passage;  and  then,  in  soliciting  subscriptions  among 
the  people,  we  urged  the  conditional  promise  of  the  law  as  an 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN".  125 

additional  motive  to  give,  since  every  man's  donation  would 
be  doubled;  thus  the  clause  worked  both  ways.  The  sub 
scriptions  accordingly  soon  exceeded  the  requisite  sum,  and 
we  claimed  and  received  the  public  gift,  which  enabled  us  to 
carry  the  design  into  execution.  A  convenient  and  handsome 
building  was  soon  erected;  the  institution  has,  by  constant 
experience,  been  found  useful,  and  flourishes  to  this  day; 
and  I  do  not  remember  any  of  my  political  maneuvers,  the 
success  of  which  gave  me  at  the  time  more  pleasure,  or 
wherein,  after  thinking  of  it,  I  more  easily  excused  myself 
for  having  made  some  use  of  cunning. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  another  projector,  the  Rev. 
Gilbert  Tennent,  came  to  me  with  a  request  that  I  would  assist 
him  in  procuring  a  subscription  for  erecting  a  new  meeting 
house.  It  was  to  be  for  the  use  of  a  congregation  he  had 
gathered  among  the  Presbyterians,  who  were  originally  dis 
ciples  of  Mr.  Whitefield.  Unwilling  to  make  myself  disagree 
able  to  my  fellow-citizens  by  too  frequently  soliciting  their 
contributions,  I  absolutely  refused.  He  then  desired  I  would 
furnish  him  with  a  list  of  the  names  of  persons  I  knew  by  ex 
perience  to  be  generous  and  public-spirited.  I  thought  it 
would  be  unbecoming  in  me,  after  their  kind  compliance  with 
my  solicitations,  to  mark  them  out  to  be  worried  by  other 
beggars,  and  therefore  refused  also  to  give  such  a  list.  He 
then  desired  I  would  at  least  give  him  my  advice.  **  That  I 
will  readily  do,"  said  I;  "  and,  in  the  first  place,  I  advise  you 
to  apply  to  all  those  whom  you  know  will  give  something; 
next,  to  those  whom  you  are  uncertain  whether  they  will  give 
anything  or  not,  and  show  them  the  list  of  those  who  have 
given;  and,  lastly,  do  not  neglect  those  who  you  are  sure  will 
give  nothing,  for  in  some  of  them  you  may  be  mistaken." 
He  laughed  and  thanked  me,  and  said  he  would  take  my  ad 
vice.  He  did  so,  for  he  asked  of  everybody,  and  he  obtained 
a  much  larger  sum  than  he  expected,  with  which  he  erected 
the  capacious  and  very  elegant  meeting-house  that  stands  in 
Arch  Street. 

Our  city,  though  laid  out  with  a  beautiful  regularity,  the 


126  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

streets  large,  straight,  and  crossing  each  other  at  right 
angles,  had  the  disgrace  of  suffering  those  streets  to  remain 
long  unpaved,  and  in  wet  weather  the  wheels  of  heavy  car 
riages  ploughed  them  into  a  quagmire,  so  that  it  was  difficult 
to  cross  them;  and  in  dry  weather  the  dust  was  offensive.  I 
had  lived  near  what  was  called  the  Jersey  Market,  and  saw, 
with  pain,  the  inhabitants  wading  in  mud  while  purchasing 
their  provisions.  A  strip  of  ground  down  the  middle  of  that 
market  was  at  length  paved  with  brick,  so  that,  being  once  in 
the  market,  they  had  firm  footing,  but  were  often  over  shoes 
in  dirt  to  get  there.  By  talking  and  writing  on  the  subject, 
I  was  at  length  instrumental  in  getting  the  street  paved  with 
stone  between  the  market  and  the  bricked  foot-pavement,  that 
was  on  each  side  next  the  houses.  This,  for  some  time,  gave 
an  easy  access  to  the  market  dry-shod;  but,  the  rest  of  the 
street  not  being  paved,  whenever  a  carriage  came  out  of  the 
mud  upon  this  pavement,  it  shook  off  and  left  its  dirt  upon 
it,  and  it  was  soon  covered  with  mire,  which  was  not  re 
moved,  the  city  as  yet  having  no  scavengers. 

After  some  inquiry,  I  found  a  poor,  industrious  man,  who 
was  willing  to  undertake  keeping  the  pavement  clean,  by 
sweeping  it  twice  a  week,  carrying  off  the  dirt  from  before  all 
the  neighbors'  doors,  for  the  sum  of  sixpence  per  month,  to  be 
paid  by  each  house.  I  then  wrote  and  printed  a  paper  set 
ting  forth  the  advantages  to  the  neighborhood  that  might 
be  obtained  by  this  small  expense;  the  greater  ease  in  keeping 
our  houses  clean,  so  much  dirt  not  being  brought  in  by 
people's  feet;  the  benefit  to  the  shops  by  more  custom,  etc., 
etc.,  as  buyers  could  more  easily  get  at  them;  and  by  not 
having,  in  windy  weather,  the  dust  blown  in  upon  their  goods, 
etc.,  etc.  I  sent  one  of  these  papers  to  each  house,  and  in  a 
day  or  two  went  round  to  see  who  would  subscribe  an  agree 
ment  to  pay  these  sixpences;  it  was  unanimously  signed,  and 
for  a  time  well  executed.  All  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  were 
delighted  with  the  cleanliness  of  the  pavement  that  surrounded 
the  market,  it  being  a  convenience  to  all,  and  this  raised  'a 


BENJAMIN   FKAXKLIX.  121 

general  desire  to  have  all  the  streets  paved,  and  made  the 
people  more  willing  to  submit  to  a  tax  for  that  purpose. 

After  some  time  I  drew  a  bill  for  paving  the  city,  and 
brought  it  into  the  Assembly.  It  was  just  before  I  went  to 
England,  in  1757,  and  did  not  pass  till  I  was  gone,  and  then, 
with  an  alteration  in  the  mode  of  assessment,  which  I  thought 
not  for  the  better,  but  with  an  additional  provision  for  light 
ing  as  well  as  paving  the  streets,  which  was  a  great  improve 
ment.  It  was  by  a  private  person,  the  late  Mr.  John  Clifton, 
his  giving  a  sample  of  the  utility  of  lamps,  by  placing  one  at 
his  door,  that  the  people  were  first  impressed  with  the  idea  of 
enlighting  all  the  city.  The  honor  of  this  public  benefit  has 
also  been  ascribed  to  me,  but  it  belongs  truly  to  that  gentle 
man.  I  did  but  follow  his  example,  and  have  only  some 
merit  to  claim  respecting  the  form  of  our  lamps,  as  differing 
from  the  globe  lamps  we  were  at  first  supplied  with  from 
London.  Those  we  found  inconvenient  in  these  respects: 
they  admitted  no  air  below;  the  smoke,  therefore,  did  not 
readily  go  out  above,  but  circulated  in  the  globe,  lodged  on 
its  inside,  and  soon  obstructed  the  light  they  were  intended 
to  afford;  giving,  besides,  the  daily  trouble  of  wiping  them 
clean;  and  an  accidental  stroke  on  one  of  them  would  de 
molish  it,  and  render  it  totally  useless.  I  therefore  suggested 
the  composing  them  of  four  flat  panes,  with  a  long  funnel 
above  to  draw  up  the  smoke,  and  crevices  admitting  air  below, 
to  facilitate  the  ascent  of  the  smoke ;  by  this  means  they  were 
kept  clean,  and  did  not  grow  dark  in  a  few  hours,  as  the 
London  lamps  do,  but  continued  bright  till  morning,  and  an 
accidental  stroke  would  generally  break  but  a  single  pane, 
easily  repaired. 

I  have  sometimes  wondered  that  the  Londoners  did  not, 
from  the  effect  holes  in  the  bottom  of  the  globe  lamps  used  at 
Vauxhall1  have  in  keeping  them  clean,  learn  to  have  such 
holes  in  their  street  lamps.  But,  these  holes  being  made  for 

1.  Vauxhall. — A  celebrated  public  garden  in  London,  where  cheap 
amusements  were  presented  to  the  public  in  great  variety.  Its  charac 
teristics  are  well  described  iu  Thackeray's  Vanity  Fair. 


128  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN". 

another  purpose,  viz.,  to  communicate  flame  more  suddenly 
to  the  wick  by  a  little  flax  hanging  down  through  them,  the 
other  use,  of  letting  in  air,  seems  not  to  have  been  thought  of; 
and  therefore,  after  the  lamps  have  been  lit  a  few  hours,  the 
streets  of  London  are  very  poorly  illuminated. 

The  mention  of  these  improvements  puts  me  in  mind  of  one 
I  proposed,  when  in  London,  to  Dr.  Fothergill,  who  was 
among  the  best  men  I  have  known,  and  a  great  promoter  of 
useful  projects.  I  had  observed  that  the  streets,  when  dry 
were  never  swept,  and  the  light  dust  carried  away;  but  i< 
was  suffered  to  accumulate  till  wet  weather  reduced  it  to  mud, 
and  then,  after  lying  some  days  so  deep  on  the  pavement  that 
there  was  no  crossing  but  in  paths  kept  clean  by  poor  people 
with  brooms,  it  was  with  great  labor  raked  together  and 
thrown  up  into  carts  open  above,  the  sides  of  which  suffered 
some  of  the  slush  at  every  jolt  on  the  pavement  to  shake  out 
and  fall,  sometimes  to  the  annoyance  of  foot-passengers.  The 
reason  given  for  not  sweeping  the  dusty  streets  was,  that  the 
dust  would  fly  into  the  windows  of  shops  and  houses. 

An  accidental  occurrence  had  instructed  me  how  much 
sweeping  might  be  done  in  a  little  time.  I  found  at  my  door 
in  Craven  Street1  one  morning,  a  poor  woman  sweeping  my 
pavement  with  a  birch  broom ;  she  appeared  very  pale  and 
feeble,  as  just  come  out  of  a  fit  of  sickness.  I  asked  who  em 
ployed  her  to  sweep  there  ;  she  said :  ' '  Nobody ;  but  I  am 
very  poor  and  in  distress,  and  I  sweeps  before  gentlefolkses 
doors,  and  hopes  they  will  give  me  something."  I  bid  her 
sweep  the  whole  street  clean,  and  I  would  give  her  a  shilling  ; 
this  was  at  nine  o'clock  ;  at  twelve  she  came  for  the  shilling. 
From  the  slowness  I  saw  at  first  in  her  working,  I  could 
scarce  believe  that  the  work  was  done  so  soon,  and  sent  my 
servant  to  examine  it,  who  reported  that  the  whole  street  was 
swept  perfectly  clean,  and  all  the  dust  placed  in  the  gutter, 
which  was  in  the  middle  ;  and  the  next  r.vn  washed  it  quite 

1.  American  visitors  in  London  will  find  a  tablet,  properly  inscribed,  upon 
the  house  occupied  by  Franklin,  No.  7  Craven  Street,  a  few  steps  off  the 
Strand,  near  Charing  Cross.  It  was  kept  by  Mrs.  Stevenson,  whose  daughter 
Mary  became  Franklin's  life-long  friend. 


BENJAMIN   FUAXKLIN.  129 

away,  so  that  the  pavement  and  even  the  kennel  were  per 
fectly  clean. 

I  then  judged  that,  if  that  feeble  woman  could  sweep  such 
a  street  in  three  hours,  a  strong,  active  man  might  have  done 
it  in  half  the  time.  And  here  let  me  remark  the  convenience 
of  having  but  one  gutter  in  such  a  narrow  street,  running 
down  its  middle,  instead  of  two,  one  on  each  side,  near  the 
footway  ;  for  where  all  the  rain  that  falls  on  a  street  runs 
from  the  sides  and  meets  in  the  middle,  it  forms  there  a  cur 
rent  strong  enough  to  wash  away  all  the  mud  it  meets  with  ; 
but  when  divided  into  two  channels,  it  is  often  too  weak  to 
cleanse  either,  and  only  makes  the  mud  it  finds  more  fluid,  so 
that  the  wheels  of  carriages  and  feet  of  horses  throw  and 
dash  it  upon  the  foot-pavement,  which  is  thereby  rendered 
foul  and  slippery,  and  sometimes  splash  it  upon  those  who  are 
walking.  My  proposal,  communicated  to  the  good  doctor, 
was  as  follows  : 

"For  the  more  effectual  cleaning  and  keeping  clean  the 
streets  of  London  and  Westminster,  it  is  proposed  that  the 
several  watchmen  be  contracted  with  to  have  the  dust  swept 
up  in  dry  seasons,  and  the  mud  raked  up  at  other  times,  each 
in  the  several  streets  and  lanes  of  his  round ;  that  they  be 
furnished  with  brooms  and  other  proper  instruments  for  these 
purposes,  to  be  kept  at  their  respective  stands,  ready  to  fur 
nish  the  poor  people  they  may  employ  in  the  service. 

"  That  in  the  dry  summer  months  the  dust  be  all  swept  up 
into  heaps  at  proper  distances,  before  the  shops  and  windows 
of  houses  are  usually  opened,  when  the  scavengers,  with 
close-covered  carts,  shall  also  carry  it  all  away . 

"  That  the  mud,  when  raked  up,  be  not  left  in  heaps  to  be 
spread  abroad  again  by  the  wheels  of  carriages  and  trampling 
of  horses,  but  that  the  scavengers  be  provided  with  bodies  of 
carts,  not  placed  high  upon  wheels,  but  low  upon  sliders, 
with  lattice  bottoms,  which,  being  covered  with  straw,  will 
retain  the  mud  thrown  into  them,  and  permit  the  water  to 
Jrain  from  it,  whereby  it  will  become  much  lighter,  water 
making  the  greatest  part  of  its  weight ;  these  bodies  of  carts 


130  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

to  be  placed  at  convenient  distances,  and  the  mud  brought  to 
them  in  wheelbarrows ;  they  remaining  where  placed  till  the 
mud  is  drained,  and  then  horses  brought  to  draw  them  away." 

I  have  since  had  doubts  of  the  practicability  of  the  latter 
part  of  this  proposal,  on  account  of  the  narrowness  of  some 
streets,  and  the  difficulty  of  placing  the  draining- sleds  so  as 
not  to  encumber  too  much  the  passage  ;  but  I  am  still  of 
opinion  that  the  former,  requiring  the  dust  to  be  swept  up 
and  carried  away  before  the  shops  are  open,  is  very  practi 
cable  in  summer,  when  the  days  are  long  ;  for,  in  walking 
through  the  Strand  and  Fleet  Street  one  morning  at  seven 
o'clock,  I  observed  there  was  not  one  shop  open,  though  it 
had  been  daylight  and  the  sun  up  above  three  hours  ;  the  in 
habitants  of  London  choosing  voluntarily  to  live  much  by 
candle-light,  and  sleep  by  sunshine,  and  yet  often  complain,  a 
little  absurdly,  of  the  duty  on  candles,  and  the  high  price  of 
tallow. 

Some  may  think  these  trifling  matters  not  worth  minding 
or  relating ;  but  when  they  consider  that  though  dust  blown 
into  the  eyes  of  a  single  person,  or  into  a  single  shop  on  a 
windy  day,  is  but  of  small  importance,  yet  the  great  number 
of  the  instances  in  a  populous  city,  and  its  frequent  repeti 
tions  give  it  weight  and  consequence,  perhaps  they  will  not 
censure  very  severely  those  who  bestow  some  attention  to 
affairs  of  this  seemingly  low  nature.  Human  felicity  is  pro 
duced  not  so  much  by  great  pieces  of  good  fortune  that 
seldom  happen,  as  by  little  advantages  that  occur  every  day. 
Thus,  if  you  teach  a  poor  young  man  to  shave  himself,  and 
keep  his  razor  in  order,  you  may  contribute  more  to  the 
happiness  of  his  life  than  in  giving  him  a  thousand  guineas. 
The  money  may  be  soon  spent,  the  regret  only  remaining  of 
having  foolishly  consumed  it ;  but  in  the  other  case,  he  es 
capes  the  frequent  vexation  of  waiting  for  barbers,  and  of 
their  sometimes  dirty  fingers,  offensive  breaths,  and  dull 
razors;  he  shaves  when  most  convenient  to  him,  and  enjoys 
daily  the  pleasure  of  its  being  done  with  a  good  instrument. 
With  these  sentiments  I  have  hazarded  the  few  preceding 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  131 

pages,  hoping  they  may  afford  hints  which  some  time  or  other 
may  be  useful  to  a  city  I  love,  having  lived  many  years  in  it 
very  happily,  and  perhaps  to  some  of  our  towns  in  America. 

Having  been  for  some  time  employed  by  the  postmaster- 
general  of  America  as  his  controller  in  regulating  several 
offices,  and  bringing  the  officers  to  account,  I  was,  upon  his 
death  in  1753,  appointed,  jointly  with  Mr.  William  Hunter, 
to  succeed  him,  by  a  commission  from  the  postmaster-general 
in  England.  The  American  office  never  had  hitherto  paid 
anything  to  that  of  Great  Britain.  We  were  to  have  six  hun 
dred  pounds  a  year  between  us,  if  we  could  make  that  sum 
out  of  the  profits  of  the  office.  To  do  this,  a  variety  of  im 
provements  were  necessary  ;  some  of  these  were  inevitably  at 
first  expensive,  so  that  in  the  first  four  years  the  office  be 
came  above  nine  hundred  pounds  in  debt  to  us.1  But  it  soon 
after  began  to  repay  us  ;  and  before  I  was  displaced  by  a 
freak  of  the  ministers,  of  which  I  shall  speak  hereafter,  we 
had  brought  it  to  yield  three  times  as  much  clear  revenue  to 
the  crown  as  the  post-office  of  Ireland.  Since  that  imprudent 
transaction,  they  have  received  from  it — not  one  farthing  ! 

The  business  of  the  post-office  occasioned  my  taking  a  jour 
ney  this  year  to  New  England,  where  the  College  of  Cam 
bridge,  of  their  own  motion,  presented  me  with  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts.  Yale  College,  in  Connecticut,  had  before 
made  me  a  similar  compliment.  Thus,  without  studying  in 
any  college,  I  came  to  partake  of  their  honors.  They  were 
conferred  in  consideration  of  my  improvements  and  discover 
ies  in  the  electric  branch  of  natural  philosophy. 

In  1754,  war  with  France  being  again  apprehended,  a  con 
gress  of  commissioners  from  the  different  colonies  was,  by  an 

1.  He  cut  down  postage,  included  newspapers  in  the  mail,  established  the 
penny-post  in  large  towns,  advertised  unclaimed  letters,  increased  the  pace 
of  the  post-riders,  and  sent  three  mails  a  week  where  one  had  been  sent 
before.  Yet  in  1775  this  notice  appeared  in  the  "  Gazette:'1  "  This  is  to  give 
notice,  that  the  New  England  mail  will  henceforth  go  once  a  week  the  year 
round;  when  a  correspondence  may  be  carried  on,  and  answers  obtained  to 
letters  between  Philadelphia  and  Boston  in  three  weeks,  which  used  in  the 
winter  to  require  six  weeks."  At  the  present  time  more  letters  are  delivered 
in  New  York  City  every  twenty-four  hours  than  Franklin  distributed  in  the 
thirteen  colonies  in  a  whole  year. 


132  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

order  of  the  Lords  of  Trade, '  to  be  assembled  at  Albany,  there 
to  confer  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations 2  concerning  the 
means  of  defending  both  their  country  and  ours.  Governor 
Hamilton,  having  received  this  order,  acquainted  the  House 
with  it,  requesting  they  would  furnish  proper  presents  for 
the  Indians,  to  be  given  on  this  occasion  ;  and  naming  the 
speaker  (Mr.  Norris)  and  myself  to  join  Mr.  Thomas  Penn 
and  Mr.  Secretary  Peters  8  as  commissioners  to  act  for  Penn 
sylvania.  The  House  approved  the  nomination,  and  provided 
the  goods  for  the  present,  though  they  did  not  much  like 
treating  out  of  the  provinces  ;  and  we  met  the  other  commis 
sioners  at  Albany  about  the  middle  of  June. 

In  our  way  thither,  I  projected  and  drew  a  plan  for  the 
union  of  all  the  colonies  under  one  government,  so  far  as 
might  be  necessary  for  defense,  and  other  important  general 
purposes.  As  we  passed  through  New  York,  I  had  there 
shown  my  project  to  Mr.  James  Alexander  and  Mr.  Kennedy, 
two  gentlemen  of  great  knowledge  in  public  affairs,  and,  be 
ing  fortified  by  their  approbation,  I  ventured  to  lay  it  before 
the  Congress.  It  then  appeared  that  several  of  the  commis 
sioners  had  formed  plans  of  the  same  kind.  A  previous 
question  was  first  taken,  whether  a  union  should  be  estab 
lished,  which  passed  in  the  affirmative  unanimously.  A  com 
mittee  was  then  appointed,  one  member  from  each  colony,  to 
consider  the  several  plans  and  report.  Mine  happened  to  be 
preferred,  and,  with  a  few  amendments,  was  accordingly  re 
ported. 

By  this  plan  the  general  government  was  to  be  administered 
by  a  president-general,  appointed  and  supported  by  the  crown, 
and  a  grand  council  was  to  be  chosen  by  the  representatives 
of  the  people  of  the  several  colonies,  met  in  their  respective 
assemblies.  The  debates  upon  it  in  Congress  went  on  daily, 
hand  in  hand  with  the  Indian  business.  Many  objections  and 


1.  L,ords  of  trade.— The  Board  of  Trade  in  England,  a  part  of  the  Home 
Government. 

a.  Six  Nations — The  several  tribes  of  Iroquois  Indians  iu  Central  New 
York,  forming  a  powerful  confederacy. 

3.  Secretary  of  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania. 


BEXJAMIX   FRANKLIX.  133 

difficulties  were  started,  but  at  length  they  were  all  overcome, 
and  the  plan  was  unanimously  agreed  to,  and  copies  ordered 
to  be  transmitted  to  the  Board  of  Trade  and  to  the  assemblies 
of  the  several  provinces.  Its  fate  was  singular :  the  assem 
blies  did  not  adopt  it,  as  they  all  thought  there  was  too  much 
prerogative  in  it,  and  in  England  it  was  judged  to  have  too 
much  of  the  demowatic.  The  Board  of  Trade  therefore  did 
not  approve  of  it,  nor  recommend  it  for  the  approbation  of 
his  majesty;  but  another  scheme  was  formed,  supposed  to  an- 
ssver  the  same  purpose  better,  whereby  the  governors  of  the 
provinces,  with  some  members  of  their  respective  councils, 
were  to  meet  and  order  the  raising  of  troops,  building  of 
forts,  etc.,  and  to  draw  on  the  treasury  of  Great  Britain  for 
the  expense,  which  was  afterwards  to  be  refunded  by  an  act 
of  Parliament  laying  a  tax  on  America.  My  plan,  with  my 
reasons  in  support  of  it,  is  to  be  found  among  my  political 
papers  that  are  printed. 

Being  the  winter  following  in  Boston,  I  had  much  conversa 
tion  with  Governor  Shirley  upon  both  the  plans.  Part  of 
what  passed  between  us  on  the  occasion  may  also  be  seen 
among  those  papers.  The  different  and  contrary  reasons  of 
dislike  to  my  plan  make  me  suspect  that  it  was  really  the  true 
medium  ;  and  I  am  still  of  opinion  it  would  have  been  happy 
for  both  sides  the  water  if  it  had  been  adopted.  The  colo 
nies,  so  united,  would  have  been  sufficiently  strong  to  have 
defended  themselves  ;  there  would  then  have  been  no  need  of 
troops  from  England  ;  of  course,  the  subsequent  pretense  for 
taxing  America,  and  the  bloody  contest  it  occasioned,  would 
have  been  avoided.  But  such  mistakes  are  not  new  :  history 
is  full  of  the  errors  of  states  and  princes. 

"  Look  round  the  habitable  world,  how  few 
Know  their  own  good,  or,  knowing  it,  pursue!" 

Those  who  govern,  having  much  business  on  their  hands, 
do  not  generally  like  to  take  the  trouble  of  considering  and 
carrying  into  execution  new  projects.  The  best  public  meas 
ures  are  therefore  seldom  adopted  from  previous  tvisdom,  but 
forced  by  the  occasion. 


134  BEJSTJAMIiq'   FRAKKLIiq". 


The  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  in  sending  it  down  to  the 
Assembly,  expressed  his  approbation  of  the  plan,  "as  appear 
ing  to  him  to  be  drawn  up  with  great  clearness  and  strength 
of  judgment,  and  therefore  recommended  it  as  well  worthy  of 
their  closest  and  most  serious  attention."  The  House,  how 
ever,  by  the  management  of  a  certain  member,  took  it  up 
when  I  happened  to  be  absent,  which  I  thought  not  very  fair, 
and  reprobated  it  without  paying  any  attention  to  it  at  all,  to 
my  no  small  mortification.1 

In  my  journey  to  Boston  this  year,  I  met  at  New  York  with 
our  new  governor,  Mr.  Morris,  just  arrived  there  from  Eng 
land,  with  whom  I  had  been  before  intimately  acquainted. 
He  brought  a  commission  to  supersede  Mr.  Hamilton,  who, 
tired  with  the  disputes  his  proprietary  instructions  subjected 
him  to,  had  resigned.  Mr.  Morris  asked  me  if  I  thought  he 
must  expect  as  uncomfortable  an  administration.  I  said  : 
"No;  you  may,  on  the  contrary,  have  a  very  comfortable 
one.  if  you  will  only  take  care  not  to  enter  into  any  dispute 
with  the  Assembly."  "My  dear  friend,"  says  he,  pleasantly, 
**how  can  you  advise  my  avoiding  disputes?  You  know  I 
love  disputing  ;  it  is  one  of  my  greatest  pleasures  ;  however, 
to  show7  the  regard  I  have  for  your  counsel,  I  promise  you  I 
will,  if  possible,  avoid  them."  He  had  some  reason  for  lov 
ing  to  dispute,  being  eloquent,  an  acute  sophister,  and,  there 
fore,  generally  successful  in  argumentative  conversation.  He 
had  been  brought  up  to  it  from  a  boy,  his  father,  as  I  have 
heard,  accustoming  his  children  to  dispute  with  one  another 
for  his  diversion,  while  sitting  at  table  after  dinner  ;  but  I 
think  the  practice  was  not  wise  ;  for,  in  the  course  of  my  ob- 


1.  Franklin  not  only  suggested  thus  early,  in  this  "  Albany  Plan,"  the 
national  idea  that  was  soon  to  produce  a  new  nation,  but  also  in  the  same 
year  (1754)  presented  in  a  newspaper  letter  the  principles  that  twenty  years 
later  brought  on  the  Revolution.  He  said: 

"  That  it  is  supposed  an  undoubted  right  of  Englishmen  not  to  be  taxed 
but  by  their  own  consent,  given  through  their  representatives. 

"That  the  colonists  have  no  representatives  in  Parliament. 

"That  compelling  the  colonists  to  pay  money  without  their  consent 
would  be  rather  like  raising  contributions  in  an  enemy's  country,  than 
taxing  of  Englishmen  for  their  own  public  benefit. 

"  That  it  would  be  treating  them  as  a  conquered  people,  and  not  as  true 
British  subjects." 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  135 

servation,  these  disputing,  contradicting,  and  confuting  peo 
ple  are  generally  unfortunate  in  their  affairs.  They  get 
victory  sometimes,  but  they  never  get  good-will,  which  would 
be  of  more  use  to  them.  We  parted,  he  going  to  Philadel 
phia,  and  I  to  Boston. 

In  returning,  I  met  at  New  York  with  the  votes  of  the  As 
sembly,  by  which  it  appeared  that,  notwithstanding  his  prom 
ise  to  me,  he  and  tho  House  were  already  in  high  contention  ; 
and  it  was  a  continual  battle  between  them  as  long  as  he 
retained  the  government.  I  had  my  share  of  it ;  for,  as  soon 
as  I  got  back  to  my  seat  in  the  Assembly,  I  was  put  on  every 
committee  for  answering  his  speeches  and  messages,  and  by 
the  committees  always  desired  to  make  the  drafts.  Our  an 
swers,  as  well  as  his  messages,  were  often  tart,  and  sometimes 
indecently  abusive  ;  and,  as  he  knew  I  wrote  for  the  Assem 
bly,  one  might  have  imagined  that,  when  we  met,  we  could 
hardly  avoid  cutting  throats  ;  but  he  was  so  good-natured  a 
man  that  no  personal  difference  between  him  and  me  was 
occasioned  by  the  contest,  and  we  often  dined  together. 

One  afternoon,  in  the  height  of  this  public  quarrel,  we  met 
in  the  street.  "Franklin,"  says  he,  ''you  must  go  home 
with  me  and  spend  the  evening  ;  I  am  to  have  some  company 
that  you  will  like  ;"  and,  taking  me  by  the  arm,  he  led  me  to 
his  house.  In  gay  conversation  over  our  wine,  after  supper, 
he  told  us,  jokingly,  that  he  much  admired  the  idea  of  Sancho 
Panza,  who,  when  it  was  proposed  to  give  him  a  government, 
requested  it  might  be  a  government  of  6&zcAv?,  as  then,  if  he 
could  not  agree  with  his  people,  he  might  sell  them.  One  of 
his  friends,  who  sat  next  to  me,  says  :  "  Franklin,  why  do 
you  continue  to  side  with  these  damned  Quakers  ?  Had  not 
you  better  sell  them  ?  The  proprietor  would  give  you  a  good 
price."  "The  governor,"  says  I,  "  has  not  yet  blacked  them 
enough."  He,  indeed,  had  labored  hard  to  blacken  the  As 
sembly  in  all  his  messages,  but  they  wiped  off  his  coloring  as 
fast  as  he  laid  it  on,  and  placed  it,  in  return,  thick  upon  his 
own  face  ;  so  that,  finding  he  was  likely  to  be  negrofied  him- 


136  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

self,  he,  as  well  as  Mr.  Hamilton,  grew  tired  of  the  contest, 
and  quitted  the  government. 

These  public  quarrels  were  all  at  bottom  owing  to  the  pro 
prietaries,  our  hereditary  governors,  who,  when  any  expense 
was  to  be  incurred  for  the  defense  of  their  province,  with  in 
credible  meanness  instructed  their  deputies  to  pass  no  act  for 
levying  the  necessary  taxes,  unless  their  vast  estates  were  in 
the  same  act  expressly  excused  ;  and  they  had  even  taken 
bonds  of  these  deputies  to  observe  such  instructions.  The 
Assemblies  for  three  years  held  out  against  this  injustice, 
though  constrained  to  bend  at  last.  At  length  Captain  Denny, 
who  was  Governor  Morris's  successor,  ventured  to  disobey 
those  instructions :  how  that  was  brought  about  I  will  show 
hereafter. 

But  I  am  got  forward  too  fast  with  my  story  :  there  are 
still  some  transactions  to  be  mentioned  that  happened  during 
the  administration  of  Governor  Morris. 

War  being  in  a  manner  commenced  with  France,  the  gov 
ernment  of  Massachusetts  Bay  projected  an  attack  upon 
Crown  Point,  and  sent  Mr.  Quincy  to  Pennsylvania,  and  Mr. 
Pownall,  afterward  Governor  Pownall,  to  New  York,  to  solicit 
assistance.  As  I  was  in  the  Assembly,  knew  its  temper,  and 
was  Mr.  Quincy's  countryman,  he  applied  to  me  for  my  influ 
ence  and  assistance.  I  dictated  his  address  to  them,  which 
was  well  received.  They  voted  an  aid  of  ten  thousand  pounds, 
to  be  laid  out  in  provisions.  But  the  governor  refusing  his 
assent  to  their  bill  (which  included  this  with  other  sums 
granted  for  the  use  of  the  crown),  unless  a  clause  were  in 
serted  exempting  the  proprietary  estate  from  bearing  any  part 
of  the  tax  that  would  be  necessary,  the  Assembly,  though 
very  desirous  of  making  their  grant  to  New  England  effectual, 
were  at  a  loss  how  to  accomplish  it.  Mr.  Quincy  labored  hard 
with  the  governor  to  obtain  his  assent,  but  he  was  obstinate. 

I  then  suggested  a  method  of  doing  the  business  without 
the  governor,  by  orders  on  the  trustees  of  the  Loan  Office, 
which,  by  law,  the  Assembly  had  the  right  of  drawing. 
There  was,  indeed,  little  or  no  money  at  that  time  in  the  office, 


BEXJAMIN   FRANKLLN".  137 

and  therefore  I  proposed  that  the  orders  should  be  payable  in 
a  year,  and  to  bear  an  interest  of  five  per  cent.  With  these 
orders  I  supposed  the  provisions  might  easily  be  purchased. 
The  Assembly,  with  very  little  hesitation,  adopted  the  pro 
posal.  The  orders  were  immediately  printed,  and  I  was  one 
of  the  committee  directed  to  sign  and  dispose  of  them.  The 
fund  for  paying  them  was  the  interest  of  all  the  paper  cur 
rency  then  extant  in  the  province  upon  loan,  together  with 
the  revenue  arising  from  the  excise,  which  being  known  to  be 
more  than  sufficient,  they  obtained  instant  credit,  and  were 
not  only  received  in  payment  for  the  provisions,  but  many 
moneyed  people,  who  had  cash  lying  by  them,  vested  it  in 
those  orders,  which  they  found  advantageous,  as  they  bore 
interest  while  upon  hand,  and  might  on  any  occasion  be  used 
as  money  ;  so  that  they  were  eagerly  all  bought  up,  and  in  a 
few  weeks  none  of  them  were  to  be  seen.  Thus  this  important 
affair  was  by  my  means  completed.  Mr.  Quincy  returned 
thanks  to  the  Assembly  in  a  handsome  memorial,  went  home 
highly  pleased  with  the  success  of  his  embassy,  and  ever  after 
bore  for  me  the  most  cordial  and  affectionate  friendship. 

The  British  government,  not  choosing  to  permit  the  union 
of  the  colonies  as  proposed  at  Albany,  and  to  trust  that  union 
with  their  defense,  lest  they  should  thereby  grow  too  military, 
and  feel  their  own  strength,  suspicions  and  jealousies  at  this 
time  being  entertained  of  them,  sent  over  General  Braddock 
witli  t\vo  regiments  of  regular  English  troops  for  that  purpose. 
He  landed  at  Alexandria,  in  Virginia,  and  thence  marched  to 
Frederictown,  in  Maryland,  where  he  halted  for  carriages. 
Our  Assembly  apprehending,  from  some  information,  that  he 
had  conceived  violent  prejudices  against  them,  as  averse  to 
the  service,  wished  me  to  wait  upon  him,  not  as  from  them, 
but  as  postmaster-general,  under  the  guise  of  proposing  to 
settle  with  him  the  mode  of  conducting  with  most  celerity 
and.  certainty  the  despatches  between  him  and  the  governors 
of  the  several  provinces,  with  whom  he  must  necessarily  have 
continual  correspondence,  and  of  which  they  proposed  to  pay 
the  expense.  My  son  accompanied  me  on  this  journey. 


138  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

We  found  the  general  at  Frederictown,  waiting  impatiently 
for  the  return  of  those  he  had  sent  through  the  back  parts  of 
Maryland  and  Virginia  to  collect  wagons.  I  stayed  with  him 
several  days,  dined  with  him  daily,  and  had  full  opportu 
nity  of  removing  all  his  prejudices,  by  the  information  of 
what  the  Assembly  had  before  his  arrival  actually  done,  and 
were  still  willing  to  do,  to  facilitate  his  operations.  "When  I 
was  about  to  depart,  the  returns  of  wagons  to  be  obtained 
were  brought  in,  by  which  it  appeared  that  they  amounted 
only  to  twenty-five,  and  not  all  of  those  were  in  serviceable 
condition.  The  general  and  all  the  officers  were  surprised, 
declared  the  expedition  was  then  at  an  end,  being  impossible; 
and  exclaimed  against  the  ministers  for  ignorantly  landing 
them  in  a  country  destitute  of  the  means  of  conveying  their 
stores,  baggage,  etc.,  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
wagons  being  necessary. 

I  happened  to  say  I  thought  it  was  pity  they  had  not 
been  landed  rather  in  Pennsylvania,  as  in  that  country  almost 
every  farmer  had  his  wagon.  The  general  eagerly  laid  hold 
of  my  words,  and  said:  "Then  you,  sir,  who  are  a  man  of 
interest  there,  can  probably  procure  them  for  us;  and  I  beg 
you  will  undertake  it."  I  asked  what  terms  were  to  be  offered 
the  owners  of  the  wagons;  and  I  was  desired  to  put  on  paper 
the  terms  that  appeared  to  me  necessary.  This  I  did,  and 
they  were  agreed  to,  and  a  commission  and  instructions  ac 
cordingly  prepared  immediately.  What  those  terms  were 
will  appear  in  the  advertisement  I  published  as  soon  as  I  ar 
rived  at  Lancaster,  which  being,  from  the  great  and  sudden 
effect  it  produced,  a  piece  of  some  curiosity,  I  shall  insert  it 
at  length,  as  follows: 

"  ADVERTISEMENT. 

"  LANCASTER,  April  26.  1755. 

<4  Whereas,  one  hundred  and  fifty  wagons,  with  four  horses 
to  each  wagon,  and  fifteen  hundred  saddle  or  pack  horses, 
are  wanted  for  the  service  of  his  majesty's  forces  now  about 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  139 

to  rendezvous  at  Will's  Creek,  and  his  excellency  General 
Braddock,  having  been  pleased  to  empower  me  to  contract  for 
the  hire  of  the  same,  I  hereby  give  notice  that  I  shall  attend 
for  that  purpose  at  Lancaster  from  this  day  to  next  Wednes 
day  evening,  and  at  York  from  next  Thursday  morning  till 
Friday  evening,  where  I  shall  be  ready  to  agree  for  wagons 
and  teams,  or  single  horses,  on  the  following  terms,  viz. :  1. 
That  there  shall  be  paid  for  each  wagon,  with  four  good  horses 
and  a  driver,  fifteen  shillings  per  diem;  and  for  each  able  horse 
with  a  pack-saddle,  or  other  saddle  and  furniture,  two  shillings 
per  diem;  and  for  each  able  horse  without  a  saddle,  eighteen 
pence  per  diem.  2.  That  the  pay  commence  from  the  time 
of  their  joining  the  forces  at  Will's  Creek,  which  must  be  on 
or  before  the  20th  of  May  ensuing,  and  that  a  reasonable  al 
lowance  be  paid  over  and  above  for  the  time  necessary  for 
their  traveling  to  Will's  Creek  and  home  again  after  their 
discharge.  3.  Each  wagon  and  team,  and  every  saddle  cr 
pack-horse,  is  to  be  valued  by  indifferent  persons  chosen  be 
tween  me  and  the  owner;  and  in  case  of  the  loss  of  any  wagon, 
team,  or  other  horse  in  the  service,  the  price  according  to  such 
valuation  is  to  be  allowed  and  paid.  4.  Seven  days'  pay  is  to 
be  advanced  and  paid  in  hand  by  me  to  the  owner  of  each 
wagon  and  team,  or  horse,  at  the  time  of  contracting,  if  re 
quired,  and  the  remainder  to  be  paid  by  General  Braddock,  or 
by  the  paymaster  of  the  army,  at  the  time  of  their  discharge, 
or  from  time  to  time,  as  it  shall  be  demanded.  5.  No  drivers 
of  wagons,  or  persons  taking  care  of  the  hired  horses,  are  on 
any  account  to  be  called  upon  to  do  the  duty  of  soldiers,  or  be 
otherwise  employed  than  in  conducting  or  taking  care  of  their 
carriages  or  horses.  6.  All  oats,  Indian  corn,  or  other  forage 
that  wagons  or  horses  bring  to  the  camp,  more  than  is  neces 
sary  for  the  subsistence  of  the  horses,  is  to  be  taken  for  the 
use  of  the  army,  and  a  reasonable  price  paid  for  the  same. 

44  NOTE. — My  son,  William  Franklin,  is  empowered  to  enter 
into  like  contracts  with  any  person  in  Cumberland  county. 

44  B.  FRANKLIN." 


140  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

' '  To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Lancaster,  York,  and 
Cumberland. 

"  FRIENDS  AND  COUNTRYMEN: 

"Being  occasionally  at  the  camp  at  Frederic  a  few  days 
since,  I  found  the  general  and  officers  extremely  exasperated 
on  account  of  their  not  being  supplied  with  horses  and  car 
riages,  which  had  been  expected  from  this  province,  as  most 
able  to  furnish  them;  but,  through  the  dissensions  between 
our  governor  and  Assembly,  money  had  not  been  provided, 
nor  any  steps  taken  for  that  purpose. 

"It  was  proposed  to  send  an  armed  force  immediately  into 
these  counties,  to  seize  as  many  of  the  best  carriages  and 
horses  as  should  be  wanted,  and  compel  as  many  persons  into 
the  service  as  would  be  necessary  to  drive  and  take  care  of 
them. 

"  I  apprehended  that  the  progress  of  British  soldiers  through 
these  counties  on  such  an  occasion,  especially  considering  the 
temper  they  are  in,  and  their  resentment  against  us,  would 
be  attended  with  many  and  great  inconveniences  to  the  in 
habitants,  and  therefore  more  willingly  took  the  trouble  of 
trying  first  what  might  be  done  by  fair  and  equitable  means. 
The  people  of  these  back  counties  have  lately  complained  to 
the  Assembly  that  a  sufficient  currency  was  wanting;  you 
have  an  opportunity  of  receiving  and  dividing  among  you  a 
very  considerable  sum;  for,  if  the  service  of  this  expedition 
should  continue,  as  it  is  more  than  probable  it  will,  for  one 
hundred  and  twenty  days,  the  hire  of  these  wagons  and  horses 
will  amount  to  upward  of  thirty  thousand  pounds,  which  will 
be  paid  you  in  silver  and  gold  of  the  king's  money. 

"  The  service  will  be  light  and  easy,  for  the  army  will  scarce 
march  above  twelve  miles  per  day,  and  the  wagons  and  bag 
gage-horses,  as  they  carry  those  things  that  are  absolutely 
necessary  to  the  welfare  of  the  army,  must  march  with  the 
army,  and  no  faster;  and  are,  for  the  army's  sake,  always 
placed  where  they  can  be  most  secure,  whether  in  a  march  or 
in  a  camp. 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN.  141 

"  If  you  are  really,  as  I  believe  you  are,  good  and  loyal  sub 
jects  to  his  majesty,  you  may  now  do  a  most  acceptable  ser 
vice,  and  make  it  easy  to  yourselves;  for  three  or  four  of  such 
as  cannot  separately  spare  from  the  business  of  their  planta 
tions  a  wagon  and  four  horses  and  a  driver,  may  do  it  to 
gether,  one  furnishing  the  wagon,  another  one  or  two  horses, 
and  another  the  driver,  and  divide  the  pay  proportionably 
between  you;  but  if  you  do  not  this  service  to  your  king  and 
country  voluntarily,  when  such  good  pay  and  reasonable 
terms  are  offered  to  you,  your  loyalty  will  be  strongly  sus 
pected.  The  king's  business  must  be  done;  so  many  brave 
troops,  come  so  far  for  your  defense,  must  not  stand  idle 
through  your  backwardness  to  do  what  may  be  reasonably 
expected  from  you;  wagons  and  horses  must  be  had;  violent 
measures  will  probably  be  used,  and  you  wrill  be  left  to  seek 
for  a  recompense  where  you  can  find  it,  and  your  case,  per 
haps,  be  little  pitied  or  regarded. 

'*  I  have  no  particular  interest  in  this  affair,  as,  except  the 
satisfaction  of  endeavoring  to  do  good,  I  shall  have  only  my 
labor  for  my  pains.  If  this  method  of  obtaining  the  wagons 
and  horses  is  not  likely  to  succeed,  I  am  obliged  to  send  word 
to  the  general  in  fourteen  days;  and  I  suppose  Sir  John  St. 
Clair,  the  hussar,  with  a  body  of  soldiers,  will  immediately 
enter  the  province  for  the  purpose,  which  I  shall  be  sorry  to 
hear,  because  I  am  very  sincerely  and  truly  your  friend  and 
well-wisher, 

"B.  FRANKLIN." 

I  received  of  the  general  about  eight  hundred  pounds,  to  be 
disbursed  in  advance-money  to  the  wagon  owners,  etc.;  but 
that  sum  being  insufficient,  I  advanced  upward  of  two  hun 
dred  pounds  more,  and  in  two  weeks  the  one  hundred  and 
fifty  wagons,  with  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine  carrying  horses, 
were  on  their  march  for  the  camp.  The  advertisement  prom 
ised  payment  according  to  the  valuation,  in  case  any  wagon 
or  horse  should  be  lost.  The  owners,  however,  alleging  they 
did  not  know  General  Braddock,  or  what  dependence  might 


142  BEJSTJAMLtf   FRANKLIK. 

be  had  on  his  promise,  insisted  on  my  bond  for  the  perform 
ance,  which  I  accordingly  gave  them. 

While  I  was  at  the  camp,  supping  one  evening  with  the 
officers  of  Colonel  Dunbar's  regiment,  he  represented  to  me 
his  concern  for  the  subalterns,  who,  he  said,  were  generally 
not  in  affluence,  and  could  ill  afford,  in  this  dear  country,  to 
lay  in  the  stores  that  might  be  necessary  in  so  long  a  march, 
through  a  wilderness,  where  nothing  was  to  be  purchased. 
I  commiserated  their  case,  and  resolved  to  endeavor  procur 
ing  them  some  relief.  I  said  nothing,  however,  to  him  of  my 
intention,  but  wrote  the  next  morning  to  the  committee  of 
the  Assembly,  who  had  the  disposition  of  some  public  money, 
warmly  recommending  the  case  of  these  officers  to  their  con 
sideration,  and  proposing  that  a  present  should  be  sent  them 
of  necessaries  and  refreshments.  My  son,  who  had  some  ex 
perience  of  a  camp  life,  and  of  its  wants,  drew  up  a  list  for 
me,  which  I  enclosed  in  my  letter.  The  committee  approved, 
and  used  such  diligence  that,  conducted  by  my  son,  the  stores 
arrived  at  the  camp  as  soon  as  the  wagons.  They  consisted 
of  twenty  parcels,  each  containing 

d  Ibs.  loaf  sugar.  1  Gloucester  cheese. 

6  Ibs.  good  Muscovado  do.  1  keg  containing  20  Ibs.  good  butter. 

1  Ib.  good  green  tea.  2  doz.  old  Madeira  wine. 

1  Ib.  good  bohea  do.  2  gallons  Jamaica  spirits. 

6  Ibs.  good  ground  coffee.  1  bottle  flour  of  mustard. 

6  Ibs.  chocolate.  2  well -cured  hams. 

i  cwt.  best  white  biscuit.  J  dozen  dried  tongues. 

£  Ib.  pepper.  6  Ibs.  rice. 

1  quart  best  white  wine  vinegar.  6  Ibs.  raisins. 

These  twenty  parcels,  well  packed,  were  placed  on  as  many 
horses,  each  parcel,  with  the  horse,  being  intended  as  a  present 
for  one  officer.  They  were  very  thankfully  received,  and  the 
kindness  acknowledged  by  letters  to  me  from  the  colonels  of 
both  regiments,  in  the  most  grateful  terms.  The  general, 
too,  was  highly  satisfied  with  my  conduct  in  procuring  him 
the  wagons,  etc.,  and  readily  paid  my  account  of  disburse 
ments,  thanking  me  repeatedly,  and  requesting  my  farther 
assistance  in  sending  provisions  after  him.  I  undertook  this 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  143 

also,  and  was  busily  employed  in  it  till  we  heard  of  his  defeat, 
advancing  for  the  service  of  my  own  money,  upwards  of  one 
thousand  pounds  sterling,  of  which  I  sent  him  an  account. 
It  came  to  his  hands,  luckily  for  me,  a  few  days  before  the 
battle,  and  he  returned  me  immediately  an  order  on  the 
paymaster  for  the  round  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds,  leaving 
the  remainder  to  the  next  account.  I  consider  this  payment 
as  good  luck,  having  never  b^en  able  to  obtain  that  remainder, 
of  which  more  hereafter. 

This  general  was,  I  think,  a  brave  man,  and  might  probably 
have  made  a  figure  as  a  good  officer  in  some  European  war. 
But  he  had  too  much  self-confidence,  too  high  an  opinion  of 
the  validity  of  regular  troops,  and  too  mean  a  one  of  both 
Americans  and  Indians.  George  Croghan,  our  Indian  in 
terpreter,  joined  him  on  his  march  with  one  hundred  of  those 
people,  who  might  have  been  of  great  use  to  his  army  as 
guides,  scouts,  etc. ,  if  he  had  treated  them  kindly  ;  but  he 
slighted  and  neglected  them,  and  they  gradually  left  him. 

In  conversation  with  him  one  day,  he  was  giving  me  some 
account  of  his  intended  progress.  "  After  taking  Fort  Du 
quesne,"  says  he,  "  I  am  to  proceed  to  Niagara  ;  and,  having 
taken  that,  to  Frontenac,  if  the  season  will  allow  time  ;  and 
I  suppose  it  will,  for  Duquesne  can  hardly  detain  me  above 
three  or  four  days  ;  and  then  I  see  nothing  that  can  obstruct 
my  march  to  Niagara."  Having  before  revolved  in  my  mind 
the  long  line  his  army  must  make  in  their  march  by  a  very 
narrow  road,  to  be  cut  for  them  through  the  woods  and 
bushes,  and  also  what  I  had  read  of  a  former  defeat  of  fifteen 
hundred  French,  who  invaded  the  Iroquois  country,  I  had 
conceived  some  doubts  and  some  fears  for  the  event  of  the 
campaign.  But  I  ventured  only  to  say  :  "  To  be  sure,  sir,  if 
you  arrive  well  before  Duquesne,  with  these  fine  troops,  so 
well  provided  with  artillery,  that  place,  not  yet  completely 
fortified,  and  as  we  hear  with  no  verjr  strong  garrison,  can 
probably  make  but  a  short  resistance.  The  only  danger  I 
apprehend  of  obstruction  to  your  march  is  from  ambuscades 
of  Indians,  who,  by  constant  practice,  are  dexterous  in  laying 


144  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

and  executing  them  ;  and  the  slender  line,  near  four  miles 
long,  which  your  army  must  make,  may  expose  it  to  be 
attacked  by  surprise  in  its  flanks,  and  to  be  cut  like  a  thread 
into  several  pieces,  which,  from  their  distance,  cannot  come 
up  in  time  to  support  each  other." 

He  smiled  at  my  ignorance,  and  replied:  "These  savages 
may,  indeed,  be  a  formidable  enemy  to  your  raw  American 
militia,  but  upon  the  king's  regular  and  disciplined  troops, 
sir,  it  is  impossible  they  should  make  any  impression."  I 
was  conscious  of  an  impropriety  in  my  disputing  with  a 
military  man  in  matters  of  his  profession,  and  said  no  more. 
The  enemy,  however,  did  not  take  the  advantage  of  his 
army  which  I  apprehended  its  long  line  of  march  exposed  it 
to,  but  let  it  advance  without  interruption  till  within  nine 
miles  of  the  place  ;  and  then,  when  more  in  a  body  (for  it  had 
just  passed  a  river,  where  the  front  had  halted  till  all  had 
come  over),  and  in  a  more  open  part  of  the  woods  than  any 
it  had  passed,  attacked  its  advance  guard  by  a  heavy  fire  from 
behind  trees  and  bushes,  which  was  the  first  intelligence  the 
general  had  of  an  enemy's  being  near  him.  This  guard  being 
disordered,  the  general  hurried  the  troops  up  to  their  assist 
ance,  which  was  done  in  great  confusion,  through  wagons, 
baggage,  and  cattle ;  and  presently  the  fire  came  upon  their 
flank  :  the  officers,  being  on  horseback,  were  more  easily 
distinguished,  picked  out  as  marks,  and  fell  very  fast ;  and 
the  soldiers  were  crowded  together  in  a  huddle,  having  or 
hearing  no  orders,  and  standing  to  be  shot  at  till  two-thirds 
of  them  were  killed  ;  and  then,  being  seized  with  a  panic, 
the  whole  fled  with  precipitation. 

The  wagoners  took  each  a  horse  out  of  his  team  and  scam 
pered;  their  example  was  immediately  followed  by  others;  so 
that  all  the  wagons,  provisions,  artillery,  and  stores  were  left 
to  the  enemy.  The  general,  being  wounded,  was  brought  off 
with  difficulty;  his  secretary,  Mr.  Shirley,  was  killed  by  his 
side;  and  out  of  eighty-six  officers,  sixty-three  were  killed  or 
wounded,  and  seven  hundred  and  fourteen  men  killed  out  of 
eleven  hundred.  These  eleven  hundred  had  been  picked  men 


'S  rRAXKLisr.  145 

from  the  whole  army;  the  rest  had  been  left  behind  with 
Colonel  Duubar,  who  was  to  follow  with  the  heavier  part  of 
the  stores,  provisions,  and  baggage.  The  fliers,  not  being 
pursued,  arrived  at  Dunbar's  camp,  and  the  panic  they 
brought  with  them  instantly  seized  him  and  all  his  people; 
and,  though  he  had  now  above  one  thousand  men,  and  the 
enemy  who  had  beaten  Braddock  did  not  at  most  exceed  four 
hundred  Indians  and  French  together,  instead  of  proceeding, 
and  endeavoring  to  recover  some  of  the  lost  honor,  he  ordered 
all  the  stores,  ammunition,  etc.,  to  be  destroyed,  that  he 
might  have  more  horses  to  assist  his  flight  towards  the  settle 
ments,  and  less  lumber  to  remove.  He  was  there  met  with 
requests  from  the  governors  of  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Penn 
sylvania,  that  he  would  post  his  troops  on  the  frontiers,  so  as 
to  afford  some  protection  to  the  inhabitants;  but  he  continued 
his  hasty  march  through  all  the  country,  not  thinking  himself 
safe  till  he  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  where  the  inhabitants 
could  protect  him.  This  whole  transaction  gave  us  Americans 
the  first  suspicion  that  our  exalted  ideas  of  the  prowess  of 
British  regulars  had  not  been  well  founded. 

In  their  first  march,  too,  from  their  landing  till  they  got 
beyond  the  settlements,  they  had  plundered  and  stripped  the 
inhabitants,  totally  ruining  some  poor  families,  besides  insult 
ing,  abusing,  and  confining  the  people  if  they  remonstrated. 
This  was  enough  to  put  us  out  of  conceit  of  such  defenders,  if 
we  had  really  wanted  any.  How  different  was  the  conduct  of 
our  French  friends  in  1781,  who,  during  a  march  through  the 
most  inhabited  part  of  our  country  from  Rhode  Island  to  Vir 
ginia,  near  seven  hundred  miles,  occasioned  not  the  smallest 
complaint  for  the  loss  of  a  pig,  a  chicken,  or  even  an  apple. 

Captain  Orme,  who  was  one  of  the  general's  aids-de-camp, 
and,  being  grievously  wounded,  was  brought  off  with  him, 
and  continued  with  him  to  his  death,  which  happened  in  a 
few  days,  told  me  that  he  was  totally  silent  all  the  first  day, 
and  at  night  only  said:  "  Who  would  have  thought  it  ?"  That 
he  was  silent  again  the  following  day,  saying  only  at  last: 


146  BENJAMIN   FKANKLIN. 

"  We  shall  better  know  how  to  deal  with  them  another  time"', 
and  died  in  a  few  minutes  after.1 

The  secretary's  papers,  with  all  the  general's  orders,  instruc 
tions,  and  correspondence,  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands, 
they  selected  and  translated  into  French  a  number  of  the 
articles,  which  they  printed,  to  prove  the  hostile  intentions  of 
the  British  court  before  the  declaration  of  war.  Among  these 
I  saw  some  letters  of  the  general  to  the  ministry,  speaking 
highly  of  the  great  service  I  had  rendered  the  army,  and 
recommending  me  to  their  notice.  David  Hume,  too,  who 
was  some  years  after  secretary  to  Lord  Hertford,  when  minis 
ter  in  France,  and  afterward  to  General  Conway,  when  secre 
tary  of  state,  told  me  he  had  seen  among  the  papers  in  that 
office  letters  from  Braddock  highly  recommending  me.  But, 
the  expedition  having  been  unfortunate,  my  service,  it  seems, 
was  not  thought  of  much  value,  for  those  recommendations 
were  never  of  any  use  to  me. 

As  to  rewards  from  himself,  I  asked  only  one,  which  was, 
that  he  would  give  orders  to  his  officers  not  to  enlist  any 
more  of  our  bought  servants,  and  that  he  would  discharge 
such  as  had  been  already  enlisted.  This  he  readily  granted, 
and  several  were  accordingly  returned  to  their  masters,  on  my 
application.  D  unbar,  when  the  command  devolved  on  him, 
was  not  so  generous.  He  being  at  Philadelphia,  on  his 
retreat,  or  rather  flight,  I  applied  to  him  for  the  discharge  of 
the  servants  of  three  poor  farmers  of  Lancaster  County  that 
he  had  enlisted,  reminding  him  of  the  late  general's  orders  on 
that  head.  He  promised  me  that,  if  the  masters  would  come 
to  him  at  Trenton,  where  he  should  be  in  a  few  days  on  his 
march  to  New  York,  he  would  there  deliver  their  men  to 
them.  They  accordingly  were  at  the  expense  and  trouble  of 
going  to  Trenton,  and  there  he  refused  to  perform  his  promise, 
to  their  great  loss  and  disappointment. 

As  soon  as  the  loss  of  the  wagons  and  horses  was  gener- 

1  Compare  the  account  of  Braddock's  defeat  in  the  various  biographies 
of  Washington,  who  played  an  important  part  in  the  affair.  See  particu- 
arly  Irving's  Life  of  Washington,  chs.  xv.,  xvi. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  147 

ally  known,  all  the  owners  came  upon  me  for  the  valuation 
which  I  had  given  bond  to  pay.  Their  demands  gave  me  a 
great  deal  of  trouble,  my  acquainting  them  that  the  money 
was  ready  in  the  paymaster's  hands,  but  that  orders  for  pay 
ing  it  must  first  be  obtained  from  General  Shirley,  and  my 
assuring  them  that  I  had  applied  to  that  general  by  letter ; 
but,  he  being  at  a  distance,  an  answer  could  not  soon  be  re 
ceived,  and  they  must  have  patience,  all  this  was  not  sufficient 
to  satisfy,  and  some  began  to  sue  me.  General  Shirley  at 
length  relieved  me  from  this  terrible  situation  by  appointing 
commissioners  to  examine  the  claims,  and  ordering  payment. 
They  amounted  to  near  twenty  thousand  pound,  which  to  pay 
would  have  ruined  me. 

Before  we  had  the  news  of  this  defeat,  the  two  Doctors  Bond 
came  to  me  with  a  subscription  paper  for  raising  money  to 
defray  the  expense  of  a  grand  firework,  which  it  was  intended 
to  exhibit  at  a  rejoicing  on  receipt  of  the  news  of  our  taking 
Fort  Duquesne.  I  looked  grave,  and  said  it  would,  I  thought, 
be  time  enough  to  prepare  for  the  rejoicing  when  we  knew  we 
should  have  occasion  to  rejoice.  They  seemed  surprised  that 
I  did  not  immediately  comply  with  their  proposal.  "  Why 
the  d— 1 !  "  says  one  of  them,  "  you  surely  don't  suppose  that 
the  fort  will  not  be  taken  ? "  "  I  don't  know  that  it  will  not 
be  taken,  but  I  know  that  the  events  of  war  are  subject  to 
great  uncertainty."  I  gave  them  the  reasons  of  my  doubting; 
the  subscription  was  dropped,  and  the  projectors  thereby 
missed  the  mortification  they  would  have  undergone  if  the 
firework  had  been  prepared.  Doctor  Bond,  on  some  other 
occasion  afterward,  said  that  he  did  not  like  Franklin's  fore 
bodings. 

Governor  Morris,  who  had  continually  worried  the  Assembly 
with  message  after  message  before  the  defeat  of  Braddock,  to 
beat  them  into  the  making  of  acts  to  raise  money  for  the  de 
fense  of  the  province,  without  taxing,  among  others,  the  pro 
prietary  estates,  and  had  rejected  all  their  bills  for  not  having 
such  an  exempting  clause,  now  redoubled  his  attacks  with 
more  hope  of  success,  the  danger  and  necessity  being  greater. 


14o  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

The  Assembly,  however,  continued  firm,  believing  they  had 
justice  on  their  side,  and  that  it  would  be  giving  up  an  essen 
tial  right  if  they  suffered  the  governor  to  amend  their  money- 
bills.  In  one  of  the  last,  indeed,  which  was  for  granting  fifty 
thousand  pounds,  his  proposed  amendment  was  only  of  a 
single  word.  The  bill  expressed  "that  all  estates,  real  and 
personal,  were  to  be  taxed,  those  of  the  proprietaries  not  ex- 
cepted."  His  amendment  was,  for  not  read  only:  a  small,  but 
very  material  alteration.  However,  when  the  news  of  this 
disaster  reached  England,  our  friends  there,  whom  we  had 
taken  care  to  furnish  with  all  the  Assembly's  answers  to  the 
governor's  messages,  raised  a  clamor  against  the  proprietaries 
for  their  meanness  and  injustice  in  giving  their  governor  such 
instructions  ;  some  going  so  far  as  to  say  that,  by  obstructing 
the  defense  of  their  province,  they  forfeited  their  right  to  it. 
They  were  intimidated  by  this,  and  sent  orders  to  their  re 
ceiver-general  to  add  five  thousand  pounds  of  their  money  to 
whatever  sum  might  be  given  by  the  Assembly  for  such  pur 
pose. 

This,  being  notified  to  the  House,  was  accepted  in  lieu  of 
their  share  of  a  general  tax,  and  a  new  bill  was  formed,  with 
an  exempting  clause,  which  passed  accordingly.  By  this  act 
I  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  for  disposing  of  the 
money,  sixty  thousand  pounds.  I  had  been  active  in  model 
ing  the  bill  and  procuring  its  passage,  and  had,  at  the  same 
time,  drawn  a  bill  for  establishing  and  disciplining  a  volun 
tary  militia,  which  I  carried  through  the  House  without  much 
difficulty,  as  care  was  taken  in  it  to  leave  the  Quakers  at  their 
liberty. l  To  promote  the  association  necessary  to  form  the 
militia,  I  wrote  a  dialogue,  stating  and  answering  all  the  ob 
jections  I  could  think  of  to  such  a  militia,  which  was  printed, 
and  had,  as  I  thought,  great  effect. 

1.  The  preamble  of  the  bill  exempted  Quakers  from  bearing  arms.  For 
this  reason  many  refused  to  enlist.  To  shame  them,  Franklin  wrote  "  A 
Dialogue  between  X,  Y,  and  Z  concerning  the  present  State  of  Affairs  in 
Pennsylvania,"  which  ends  with  these  words:  "O  my  friends,  the  glory  of 
serving  and  saving  others  is  superior  to  the  advantage  of  being  served  and 
secured.  Let  us  resolutely  and  generously  unite  in  our  country's  cause,  in 
which  to  die  is  the  sweetest  of  all  deaths;  and  may  the  God  of  armies  bless 
our  honest  endeavors." 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  149 

"While  the  several  companies  in  the  city  and  country  were 
forming,  and  learning  their  exercise,  the  governor  prevailed 
with  me  to  take  charge  of  our  North-western  frontier,  which 
was  infested  by  the  enemy,  and  provide  for  the  defense  of  the 
inhabitants  by  raising  troops  and  building  a  line  of  forts.  I 
undertook  this  military  business,  though  I  did  not  conceive 
myself  well  qualified  for  it.  He  gave  me  a  commission  with 
full  powers,  and  a  parcel  of  blank  commissions  for  officers,  to 
be  given  to  whom  I  thought  fit.  I  had  but  little  difficulty  in 
raising  men,  having  soon  five  hundred  and  sixty  under  my 
command.  My  son,  who  had  in  the  preceding  war  been  an 
officer  in  the  army  raised  against  Canada,  was  my  aid-de 
camp,  and  of  great  use  to  me.  The  Indians  had  burned 
Gnadenhut,  a  village  settled  by  the  Moravians,  and  massacred 
the  inhabitants  ;  but  the  place  was  thought  a  good  situation 
for  one  of  the  forts. 

In  order  to  march  thither,  I  assembled  the  companies  at 
Bethlehem,  the  chief  establishment  of  those  people.  I  was 
surprised  to  find  it  in  so  good  a  posture  of  defense  ;  the  de 
struction  of  Gnadenhut  had  made  them  apprehend  danger. 
The  principal  buildings  were  defended  by  a  stockade ;  they 
had  purchased  a  quantity  of  arms  and  ammunition  from  New 
York,  and  had  even  placed  quantities  of  small  paving-stones 
between  the  windows  of  their  high  stone  houses,  for  their 
women  to  throw  down  upon  the  heads  of  any  Indians  that 
should  attempt  to  force  into  them.  The  armed  brethren,  too, 
kept  watch,  and  relieved  as  methodically  as  in  any  garrison- 
town.  In  conversation  with  the  bishop,  Spangenberg,  1 
mentioned  this  my  surprise  ;  for,  knowing  they  had  obtained 
an  act  of  Parliament  exempting  them  from  military  duties  in 
the  colonies,  I  had  supposed  they  were  conscientiously  scru 
pulous  of  bearing  arms.  He  answered  me  that  i(  was  not  one 
of  their  established  principles,  but  that,  at  the  time  of  their 
obtaining  that  act,  it  was  thought  to  be  a  principle  with  many 
of  their  people.  On  this  occasion,  however,  they,  to  their 
surprise,  found  it  adopted  by  but  a  few.  It  seems  they  were 
either  deceived  in  themselves,  or  deceived  the  Parliament ; 


150  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

but  common  sense,  aided  by  present  danger,  will  sometimes 
be  too  strong  for  whimsical  opinions. 

It  was  the  beginning  of  January  when  we  set  out  upon  this 
business  of  building  forts.  I  sent  one  detachment  toward  the 
Minisink,  with  instructions  to  erect  one  for  the  security  of 
that  upper  part  of  the  country,  and  another  to  the  lower  part, 
with  similar  instructions  ;  and  I  concluded  to  go  myself  with 
the  rest  of  my  force  to  Gnadenhut,  where  a  fort  was  thought 
more  immediately  necessary.  The  Moravians  procured  me 
livu  wagons  for  our  tools,  stores,  baggage,  etc. 

Just  before  we  left  Bethlehem,  eleven  farmers,  who  had 
been  driven  from  their  plantations  by  the  Indians,  came  to 
me  requesting  a  supply  of  firearms,  that  they  might  go  back 
and  fetch  off  their  cattle.  I  gave  them  each  a  gun  with  suitable 
ammunition.  We  had  not  marched  many  miles  before  it  be 
gan  to  rain,  and  it  continued  raining  all  day ;  there  were  no 
habitations  on  the  road  to  shelter  us,  till  we  arrived  near 
night  at  the  house  of  a  German,  where,  and  in  his  barn,  we 
were  all  huddled  together,  as  wet  as  water  could  make  us.  It 
•was  well  we  were  not  attacked  in  our  march,  for  our  arms 
were  of  the  most  ordinary  sort,  and  our  men  could  not 
keep  their  gun-locks  dry.  The  Indians  are  dexterous  in  con 
trivances  for  that  purpose,  which  we  had  not.  They  met  that 
day  the  eleven  poor  farmers  above  mentioned,  and  killed  ten 
of  them.  The  one  who  escaped  informed  that  his  and  his 
companions'  guns  would  not  go  off,  the  priming  being  wet 
with  the  rain. 

The  next  day  being  fair,  we  continued  our  march,  and  ar 
rived  at  the  desolated  Gnadenhut.  There  was  a  saw-mill  near, 
round  which  were  left  several  piles  of  boards,  with  which 
we  soon  hutted  ourselves  ;  an  operation  the  more  necessary 
at  that  inclement  season,  as  we  had  no  tents.  Our  first  work 
was  to  bury  more  effectually  the  dead  we  found  there,  who 
had  been  half  interred  by  the  country  people. 

The  next  morning  our  fort  was  planned  and  marked  out, 
the  circumference  measuring  four  hundred  and  fifty-five  feet, 
which  would  require  as  many  palisades  to  be  made  of  trees, 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  151 

one  with  another,  of  a  foot  diameter  each.  Our  axes,  of 
which  we  had  seventy,  were  immediately  set  to  work  to  cut 
down  trees,  and,  our  men  being  dexterous  in  the  use  of  them, 
great  despatch  was  made.  Seeing  the  trees  fall  so  fast,  I  had 
the  curiosity  to  look  at  my  watch  when  two  men  began  to  cut 
at  a  pine  ;  in  six  minutes  they  had  it  upon  the  ground,  and  I 
found  it  of  fourteen  inches  diameter.  Each  pine  made  three 
palisades  of  eighteen  feet  long,  pointed  at  one  end.  While 
these  were  preparing,  our  other  men  dug  a  trench  all  round, 
of  three  feet  deep,  in  which  the  palisades  were  to  be  planted  ; 
and,  our  wagons,  the  bodies  being  taken  off,  and  the  fore  and 
hind  wheels  separated  by  taking  out  the  pin  which  united  the 
two  parts  of  the  perch,  we  had  ten  carriages,  with  two  horses 
each,  to  bring  the  palisades  from  the  woods  to  the  spot.  When 
they  were  set  up,  our  carpenters  built  a  stage  of  boards  all 
round  within,  about  six  feet  high,  for  the  men  to  stand  on 
when  to  fire  through  the  loopholes.  We  had  one  swivel  gun, 
which  we  mounted  on  one  of  the  angles,  and  fired  it  as  soon 
as  fixed,  to  let  the  Indians  know,  if  any  were  within  hearing, 
that  we  had  such  pieces  ;  and  thus  our  fort,  if  such  a  magnifi 
cent  name  may  be  given  to  so  miserable  a  stockade,  was  fin 
ished  in  a  week,  though  it  rained  so  hard  every  other  day  that 
the  men  could  not  work. 

This  gave  me  occasion  to  observe,  that,  when  men  are  em 
ployed,  they  are  best  contented  ;  for  on  the  days  they  worked 
they  were  good-natured  and  cheerful,  and,  with  the  con 
sciousness  of  having  done  a  good  day's  work,  they  spent  the 
evening  jollily  ;  but  on  our  idle  days  they  were  mutinous  and 
quarrelsome,  finding  fault  with  their  pork,  the  bread,  etc., 
and  in  continual  ill-humor,  which  put  me  in  mind  of  a  sea- 
captain,  whose  rule  it  was  to  keep  his  men  constantly  at  work; 
and,  when  his  mate  once  told  him  that  they  had  done  every 
thing,  and  there  was  nothing  further  to  employ  them  about, 
"  07*,"  says  he,  "  make  them  scour  the  anchor.'1'' 

This  kind  of  fort,  however  contemptible,  is  a  sufficient  de 
fense  against  Indians,  who  have  no  cannon.  Finding  our 
selves  now  posted  securely,  and  having  a  place  to  retreat  to 


152  BENJAMIN"    FRANKLIN. 

on  occasion,  we  ventured  out  in  parties  to  scour  the  adjacent 
country.  We  met  with  no  Indians,  but  we  found  the  places 
on  the  neighboring  hills  where  they  had  lain  to  watch  our 
proceedings.  There  was  an  art  in  their  contrivance  of  those 
places  that  seems  worth  mention.  It  being  winter,  a  fire  was 
necessary  for  them  ;  but  a  common  fire  on  the  surface  of  the 
ground  would  by  its  light  have  discovered  their  position  at  a 
distance.  They  had  therefore  dug  holes  in  the  ground  about 
three  feet  diameter,  and  somewhat  deeper  ;  we  saw  where 
they  had  with  their  hatchets  cut  off  the  charcoal  from  the 
sides  of  burnt  logs  lying  in  the  woods.  "With  these  coals  they 
had  made  small  fires  in  the  bottom  of  the  holes,  and  we  ob 
served  among  the  weeds  and  grass  the  prints  of  their  bodies, 
made  by  their  lying  all  round,  with  their  legs  hanging  down 
in  the  holes  to  keep  their  feet  warm,  which,  with  them,  is  an 
essential  point.  This  kind  of  fire,  so  managed,  could  not  dis 
cover  them,  either  by  its  light,  flame,  sparks,  or  even  smoke; 
it  appeared  that  their  number  was  not  great,  and  it  seems 
they  saw  we  were  too  many  to  be  attacked  by  them  with  pros 
pect  of  advantage. 

"We  had  for  our  chaplain  a  zealous  Presbyterian  minister, 
Mr.  Beatty,  who  complained  to  me  that  the  men  did  not  gen 
erally  attend  his  prayers  and  exhortations.  When  they  en 
listed,  they  were  promised,  besides  pay  and  provisions,  a  gill  of 
rum  a  day,  which  was  punctually  served  out  to  them,  half  in 
the  morning,  and  the  other  half  in  the  evening  ;  and  I  ob 
served  they  were  as  punctual  in  attending  to  receive  it  ;  upon 
which  I  said  to  Mr.  Beatty  :  "  It  is,  perhaps,  below  the  dig 
nity  of  your  profession  to  act  as  steward  of  the  rum,  but  if 
you  were  to  deal  it  out  and  only  just  after  prayers,  you  would 
have  them  all  about  you.1'  He  liked  the  thought,  undertook 
the  office,  and,  with  the  help  of  a  few  hands  to  measure  out 
the  liquor,  executed  it  to  satisfaction,  and  never  were  prayers 
more  generally  and  more  punctually  attended  ;  so  that  I 
thought  this  method  preferable  to  the  punishment  inflicted  by 
some  military  laws  for  non-attendance  on  divine  service. 

I  had  hardly  finished  this  business,  and  got  my  fort  well 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  153 

stored  with  provisions,  when  I  received  a  letter  from  the  gov 
ernor,  acquainting  me  that  he  had  called  the  Assembly,  and 
wished  my  attendance  there,  if  the  posture  of  affairs  on  the 
frontiers  was  such  that  my  remaining  there  was  no  longer 
necessary.  My  friends,  too,  of  the  Assembly,  pressing  me  by 
their  letters  to  be,  if  possible,  at  the  meeting,  and  my  three 
intended  forts  being  now  completed,  and  the  inhabitants  con 
tented  to  remain  on  their  farms  under  that  protection,  I  re 
solved  to  return  ;  the  more  willingly,  as  a  New  England  officer, 
Colonel  Clapham,  experienced  in  Indian  war,  being  on  a  visit 
to  our  establishment,  consented  to  accept  the  command.  I 
gave  him  a  commission,  and,  parading  the  garrison,  had  it 
read  before  them,  and  introduced  him  to  them  as  an  officer 
who,  from  his  skill  in  military  affairs,  was  much  more  fit  to 
command  them  than  myself  ;  and,  giving  them  a  little  exhor 
tation,  took  my  leave.  I  was  escorted  as  far  as  Bethlehem, 
where  I  rested  a  few  days  .to  recover  from  the  fatigue  I  had 
undergone.  The  first  night,  being  in  a  good  bed,  I  could 
hardly  sleep,  it  was, so  different  from  my  hard  lodging  on  the 
floor  of  our  hut  at  Gnaden  wrapped  only  in  a  blanket  or  two. 
"While  at  Bethlehem,  I  inquired  a  little  into  the  practice  of 
the  Moravians  :  some  of  them  had  accompanied  me,  and  all 
were  very  kind  to  me.  I  found  they  worked  for  a  common 
stock,  eat  at  common  tables,  and  slept  in  common  dormitories, 
great  numbers  together.  In  the  dormitories  I  observed  loop 
holes,  at  certain  distances  all  along  just  under  the  ceiling, 
which  I  thought  judiciously  placed  for  change  of  air.  I  was 
at  their  church,  where  I  was  entertained  with  good  music, 
the  organ  being  accompanied  with  violins,  hautboys,  flutes, 
clarinets,  etc.  I  understood  that  their  sermons  were  not 
usually  preached  to  mixed  congregations  of  men,  women,  and 
children,  as  is  our  common  practice,  but  that  they  assembled 
sometimes  the  married  men,  at  other  times  their  wives,  then 
the  young  men,  the  young  women,  and  the  little  children,  each 
division  by  itself.  The  sermon  I  heard  was  to  the  latter,  who 
came  in  and  were  placed  in  rows  on  benches  ;  the  boys  under 
the  conduct  of  a  young  man,  their  tutor,  and  the  girls  con- 


154  BENJAMIN- 

ducted  by  a  young  woman.  The  discourse  seemed  well 
adapted  to  their  capacities,  and  was  delivered  in  a  pleasing, 
familiar  manner,  coaxing  them,  as  it  were,  to  be  good.  They 
behaved  very  orderly,  but  looked  pale  and  unhealthy,  which 
made  me  suspect  they  were  kept  too  much  within  doors,  or 
not  allowed  sufficient  exercise. 

I  inquired  concerning  the  Moravian  marriages,  whether  the 
report  was  true  that  they  were  by  lot.  I  was  told  that  lots 
were  used  only  in  particular  cases  ;  that  generally,  when  a 
young  man  found  himself  disposed  to  marry,  he  informed  the 
elders  of  his  class,  who  consulted  the  elder  ladies  that  gov 
erned  the  young  women.  As  these  elders  of  the  different 
sexes  were  well  acquainted  with  the  tempers  and  dispositions 
of  their  respective  pupils,  they  could  best  judge  what  matches 
were  suitable,  and  their  judgments  were  generally  acquiesced 
in  ;  but  if,  for  example,  it  should  happen  that  two  or  three 
young  women  were  found  to  be  equally  proper  for  the  young 
man,  the  lot  was  then  recurred  to.  I  objected,  if  the  matches 
are  not  made  by  the  mutual  choice  of  the  parties,  some  of 
them  may  chance  to  be  very  unhappy.  "  And  so  they  may," 
answered  my  informer,  ' '  if  you  let  the  parties  choose  for 
themselves  ;"  which,  indeed,  I  could  not  deny. 

Being  returned  to  Philadelphia,  I  found  the  association 
went  on  swimmingly,  the  inhabitants  that  were  not  Quakers 
having  pretty  generally  come  into  it,  formed  th3mselves  into 
companies,  and  chose  their  captains,  lieutenants,  and  ensigns, 
according  to  the  new  law.  Dr.  B.  visited  me,  and  gave  me  an 
account  of  the  pains  he  had  taken  to  spread  a  general  good 
liking  to  the  law,  and  ascribed  much  to  those  endeavors.  I 
had  had  the  vanity  to  ascribe  all  to  my  Dialogue;  however, 
not  knowing  but  that  he  might  be  in  the  right,  I  let  him  enjoy 
his  opinion,  which  I  take  to  be  generally  the  best  way  in  such 
cases.  The  officers,  meeting,  chose  me  to  be  colonel  of  the 
regiment,  which  I  this  time  accepted.  I  forget  how  many 
companies  we  had,  but  we  paraded  about  twelve  hundred 
well-looking  men,  with  a  company  of  artillery,  who  had  been 
furnished  with  six  brass  field-pieces,  which  they  had  become 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  155 

so  expert  in  the  use  of  as  to  fire  twelve  times  in  a  minute. 
The  first  time  I  reviewed  my  regiment  they  accompanied  me  to 
my  house,  and  would  salute  me  with  some  rounds  fired  before 
my  door,  which  shook  down  and  broke  several  glasses  of  my 
electrical  apparatus.  And  my  new  honor  proved  not  much 
less  brittle  ;  for  all  our  commissions  were  soon  after  broken 
by  a  repeal  of  the  law  in  England. 

During  this  short  time  of  my  colonelship,  being  about  to  set 
out  on  a  journey  to  Virginia,  the  officers  of  my  regiment  took 
it  into  their  heads  that  it  would  be  proper  for  them  to  escort 
me  out  of  town,  as  far  as  the  Lower  Ferry.  Just  as  I  was 
getting  on  horseback  they  came  to  my  door,  between  thirty 
and  forty,  mounted,  and  all  in  their  uniforms.  I  had  not 
been  previously  acquainted  with  the  project,  or  I  should  have 
prevented  it,  being  naturally  averse  to  the  assuming  of  state 
on  any  occasion ;  and  I  was  a  good  deal  chagrined  at  their 
appearance,  as  I  could  not  avoid  their  accompanying  me. 
"What  made  it  worse  was,  that,  as  soon  as  we  began  to  move, 
they  drew  their  swords  and  rode  with  them  naked  all  the  way. 
Somebody  wrote  an  account  of  this  to  the  proprietor,  and  it 
gave  him  great  offense.  No  such  honor  had  been  paid  him 
when  in  the  province,  nor  to  any  of  his  governors ;  and  he 
said  it  was  only  proper  to  princes  of  the  blood-royal,  which 
may  be  true  for  aught  I  know,  who  was,  and  still  am,  ignorant 
of  the  etiquette  in  such  cases. 

This  silly  affair,  however,  greatly  increased  his  rancor 
against  me,  which  was  before  not  a  little,  on  account  of  my 
conduct  in  the  Assembly  respecting  the  exemption  of  his 
estate  from  taxation,  which  I  had  always  opposed  very  warmly, 
and  not  without  severe  reflections  on  his  meanness  and  injus 
tice  of  contending  for  it.  He  accused  me  to  the  ministry  as 
being  the  great  obstacle  to  the  king's  service,  preventing,  by 
my  influence  in  the  House,  the  proper  form  of  the  bills  for 
raising  money,  and  he  instanced  this  parade  with  my  officers 
as  a  proof  of  my  having  an  intention  to  take  the  government 
of  the  province  out  of  his  hands  by  force.  He  also  applied  to 
Sir  Everard  Fawkener,  the  postmaster-general,  to  deprive 


156  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

me  of  my  office  ;J  but  it  had  no  other  effect  than  to  procure 
from  Sir  Everard  a  gentle  admonition. 

Notwithstanding  the  continual  wrangle  between  the  gover 
nor  and  the  House,  in  which  I,  as  a  member,  had  so  large  a 
share,  there  still  subsisted  a  civil  intercourse  between  that 
gentleman  and  myself,  and  we  never  had  any  personal  differ 
ence.  I  have  sometimes  since  thought  that  his  little  or  no 
resentment  against  me,  for  the  answers  it  was  known  I  drew 
up  to  his  messages,  might  be  the  effect  of  profession;! 
habit,  and  that,  being  bred  a  lawyer,  he  might  consider  us 
both  as  merely  advocates  for  contending  clients  in  a  suit,  he 
for  the  proprietaries  and  I  for  the  Assembly.  He  would, 
therefore,  sometimes  call  in  a  friendly  way  to  advise  with  me 
on  difficult  points,  and  sometimes,  though  not  often,  take  my 
advice. 

We  acted  in  concert  to  supply  Braddock's  army  with  pro 
visions  ;  and,  when  the  shocking  news  arrived  of  his  defeat, 
the  governor  sent  in  haste  for  me,  to  consult  with  him  on 
measures  for  preventing  the  desertion  of  the  back  counties. 
I  forget  now  the  advice  I  gave  ;  but  I  think  it  was,  that 
Dunbar  should  be  written  to,  and  prevailed  with,  if  possible, 
to  post  his  troops  on  the  frontiers  for  their  protection,  till,  by 
reinforcements  from  the  colonies,  he  might  be  able  to  proceed 
ion  the  expedition.  And,  after  my  return  from  the  frontier, 
he  would  have  had  me  undertake  the  conduct  of  such  an 
expedition  with  provincial  troops,  for  the  reduction  of  Fort 
Duquesne,  Dunbar  and  his  men  being  otherwise  employed ; 
and  he  proposed  to  commission  me  as  general.  I  had  not  so 
good  an  opinion  of  my  military  abilities  as  he  professed  to 
have,  and  I  believe  his  professions  must  have  exceeded  his 
real  sentiments  ;  but  probably  he  might  think  that  my  popu 
larity  would  facilitate  the  raising  of  the  men,  and  my  influence 
in  Assembly,  the  grant  of  money  to  pay  them,  and  that,  per 
haps,  without  taxing  the  proprietary  estate.  Finding  me  not 
so  forward  to  engage  as  he  expected,  the  project  was  dropped, 

1.  That  is,  the  office  of  postmaster-general  of  the  colonies.    See  p.  131 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  157 

and  he  soon  after  left  the  government,  being  superseded  by 
Captain  Denny. 

Before  I  proceed  in  relating  the  part  I  had  in  public  affairs 
under  this  new  governor's  administration,  it  may  not  be  amiss 
here  to  give  some  account  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  my 
philosophical  reputation. 

In  1746,  being  at  Boston,  I  met  there  with  a  Dr.  Spence, 
who  was  lately  arrived  from  Scotland,  and  showed  me  some 
electric  experiments.  They  were  imperfectly  performed,  as  he 
was  not  very  expert ;  but,  being  on  a  subject  quite  new  to  me, 
they  equally  surprised  and  pi-eased  me.  Soon  after  my  return 
to  Philadelphia,  our  library  company  received  from  Mr.  P. 
Collinson,  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  of  London,  a  present  of 
a  glass  tube,  with  some  account  of  the  use  of  it  in  making 
such  experiments.  I  eagerly  seized  the  opportunity  of  repeat 
ing  what  I  had  seen  at  Boston  ;  and,  by  much  practice,  ac 
quired  great  readiness  in  performing  those,  also,  which  we 
had  an  account  of  from  England,  adding  a  number  of  new 
ones.  I  say  much  practice,  for  my  house  was  continually 
full,  for  some  time,  with  people  who  came  to  see  these  new 
wonders. 

To  divide  a  little  this  incumbrance  among  my  friends,  I 
caused  a  number  of  similar  tubes  to  be  blown  at  our  glass 
house,  with  which  they  furnished  themselves,  so  that  we  had 
at  length  several  performers.  Among  these,  the  principal 
was  Mr.  Kinnersley,  an  ingenious  neighbor,  who,  being  out  of 
business,  I  encouraged  to  undertake  showing  the  experiments 
for  money,  and  drew  up  for  him  two  lectures,  in  which  the 
experiments  were  ranged  in  such  order,  and  accompanied 
with  such  explanations  in  such  method,  as  that  the  foregoing 
should  assist  in  comprehending  the  following.  He  procured 
an  elegant  apparatus  for  the  purpose,  in  which  all  the  little 
machines  that  I  had  roughly  made  for  myself  were  nicely 
formed  by  instrument-makers.  His  lectures  were  well  at 
tended,  and  gave  great  satisfaction  ;  and  after  some  time  he 
went  through  the  colonies,  exhibiting  them  in  every  capital 
town,  and  picked  up  some  money.  In  the  West  India  islands, 


158  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

indeed,  it  was  with  difficulty  the  experiments  could  be  made, 
from  the  general  moisture  of  the  air. 

Obliged  as  we  were  to  Mr.  Collinson  for  his  present  of  the 
tube,  etc.,  I  thought  it  right  he  should  be  informed  of  our 
success  in  using  it,  and  wrote  him  several  letters  containing 
accounts  of  our  experiments.  He  got  them  read  in  the  Royal 
Society,  where  they  were  not  at  first  thought  worth  so  much 
notice  as  to  be  printed  in  their  Transactions.  One  paper, 
which  I  wrote  for  Mr.  Kinnersley,  on  the  sameness  of  light 
ning  with  electricity,  I  sent  to  Dr.  Mitchel,  an  acquaintance 
of  mine,  and  one  of  the  members  also  of  that  society,  who 
wrote  me  word  that  it  had  been  read,  but  was  laughed  at  by 
the  connoisseurs.  The  papers,  however,  being  shown  to  Dr. 
Fothergill,  he  thought  them  of  too  much  value  to  be  stifled, 
and  advised  the  printing  of  them.  Mr.  Collinson  then  gave 
them  to  Cave  for  publication  in  his  Gentleman's  Magazine ; 
but  he  chose  to  print  them  separately  in  a  pamphlet,  and 
Dr.  Fothergill  wrote  the  preface.  Cave,  it  seems,  judged 
rightly  for  his  profit,  for  by  the  additions  that  arrived  after 
ward,  they  swelled  to  a  quarto  volume,  which  has  had  five 
editions,  and  cost  him  nothing  for  copy-money.1 

It  was,  however,  some  time  before  those  papers  were  much 
taken  notice  of  in  England.  A  copy  of  them  happening  to 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Count  de  Buffon,  a  philosopher 
deservedly  of  great  reputation  in  France,  and,  indeed,  all 
over  Europe,  he  prevailed  with  M.  Dalibard  to  translate  them 
into  French,  and  they  were  printed  at  Paris.  The  publication 
offended  the  Abbe  Nollet,  preceptor  in  Natural  Philosophy  to 
the  royal  family,  and  an  able  experimenter,  who  had  formed 
and  published  a  theory  of  electricity,  which  then  had  the  gen 
eral  vogue.  He  could  not  at  first  believe  that  such  a  work 
came  from  America,  and  said  it  must  have  been  fabricated  by 

1.  The  celebrated  paper  in  which  Franklin  suggested  the  lightning-rod, 
written  in  1750.  was  entitled:  "Opinions  and  Conjectures  concerning  the 
Properties  and  Effects  of  the  Electrical  Matter,  and  the  Means  of  Preserving 
Buildings,  Ships,  etc.,  from  Lightning,  arising  from  Experiments  and  Obser 
vations  made  at  Philadelphia.  1749."  Two  years  later  he  flew  the  famous 
kite,  and  made  good  his  "  conjecture  "  that  lightning  and  electricity  are  the 
same. 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  159 

his  enemies  at  Paris,  to  decry  his  system.  Afterwards,  hav 
ing  been  assured  that  there  really  existed  such  a  person  as 
Franklin  at  Philadelphia,  which  he  had  doubted,  he  wrote 
and  published  a  volume  of  Letters,  chiefly  addressed  to  me, 
defending  his  theory,  and  denying  the  verity  of  my  experi 
ments,  and  of  the  positions  deduced  from  them. 

I  once  purposed  answering  the  abbe,  and  actually  began  the 
answer ;  but,  on  consideration  that  my  writings  contained  a 
description  of  experiments  which  any  one  might  repeat  and 
verify,  and  if  not  to  be  verified,  could  not  be  defended  ;  or 
of  observations  offered  as  conjectures,  and  not  delivered  dog 
matically,  therefore  not  laying  me  under  any  obligation  to 
defend  them  ;  and  reflecting  that  a  dispute  between  two  per 
sons,  writing  in  different  languages,  might  be  lengthened 
greatly  by  mistranslations,  and  thence  misconceptions  of  one 
another's  meaning,  much  of  one  of  the  abbe's  letters  being 
founded  on  an  error  in  the  translation,  I  concluded  to  let  my 
papers  shift  for  themselves,  believing  it  was  better  to  spend 
what  time  I  could  spare  from  public  business  in  making  new 
experiments,  than  in  disputing  about  those  already  made.  I 
therefore  never  answered  M.  Nollet,  and  the  event  gave  me 
no  cause  to  repent  my  silence  ;  for  my  friend  M.  le  Roy,  of 
the  Royal  Academy  of  Sciences,  took  up  my  cause  and  refuted 
him ;  my  book  was  translated  into  the  Italian,  German,  and 
Latin  languages  ;  and  the  doctrine  it  contained  was  by  de 
grees  universally  adopted  by  the  philosophers  of  Europe,  in 
preference  to  that  of  the  abbe  ;  so  that  he  lived  to  see  himself 

the  last  of  his  sect,  except  Monsieur  B ,  of  Paris,  his  eleve1 

and  immediate  disciple. 

What  gave  my  book  the  more  sudden  and  general  celebrity, 
was  the  success  of  one  of  its  proposed  experiments,  made  by 
Messrs.  Dalibard  and  De  Lor  at  Marly,  for  drawing  lightning 
from  the  clouds.  This  engaged  the  public  attention  every 
where.  M.  de  Lor,  who  had  an  apparatus  for  experimental 
philosophy,  and  lectured  in  that  branch  of  science,  undertook 

1.  iilfeve. — French  for  pupil  or  scholar. 


100  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIK. 

to  repeat  what  he  called  the  Philadelphia  Experiments ;  and, 
after  they  were  performed  before  the  king  and  court,  all  the 
curious  of  Paris  flocked  to  see  them.  I  will  not  swell  this  nar 
rative  with  an  account  of  that  capital  experiment,  nor  of  the 
infinite  pleasure  I  received  in  the  success  of  a  similar  one  I 
made  soon  after  with  a  kite  at  Philadelphia,  as  both  are  to  be 
found  in  the  histories  of  electricity. 

Dr.  Wright,  an  English  physician,  when  at  Paris,  wrote  to 
a  friend,  who  was  of  the  Royal  Society,  an  account  of  the  high 
esteem  my  experiments  were  in  among  the  learned  abroad, 
and  of  their  wonder  that  my  writings  had  been  so  little  no 
ticed  in  England.  The  society,  on  this,  resumed  the  consid 
eration  of  the  letters  that  had  been  read  to  them ;  and  the 
celebrated  Dr.  Watson  drew  up  a  summary  account  of  them, 
and  of  all  I  had  afterwards  sent  to  England  on  the  subject, 
which  he  accompanied  with  some  praise  of  the  writer.  This 
summary  was  then  printed  in  their  Transactions  ;  and  some 
members  of  the  society  in  London,  particularly  the  very  in 
genious  Mr.  Canton,  having  verified  the  experiment  of  procur 
ing  lightning  from  the  clouds  by  a  pointed  rod,  and  acquainting 
them  with  the  success,  they  soon  made  me  more  than  amends 
for  the  slight  with  which  they  had  before  treated  me.  With 
out  my  having  made  any  application  for  that  honor,  they 
chose  me  a  member,  and  voted  that  I  should  be  excused  the 
customary  payments,  which  would  have  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  guineas  ;  and  ever  since  have  given  me  their  Transactions 
gratis.  They  also  presented  me  with  the  gold  medal  of  Sir 
Godfrey  Copley  for  the  year  1753,  the  delivery  of  which  was 
accompanied  by  a  very  handsome  speech  of  the  president, 
Lord  Macclesfield,  wherein  I  was  highly  honored. 

Our  new  governor,  Captain  Denny,  brought  over  for  me  the 
before-mentioned  medal  from  the  Royal  Society,  which  he 
presented  to  me  at  an  entertainment  given  him  by  the  city. 
He  accompanied  it  with  very  polite  expressions  of  his  esteem 
for  me,  having,  as  he  saidt  been  long  acquainted  with  my 
character.  After  dinner,  when  the  company,  as  was  custom 
ary  at  that  time,  were  engaged  in  drinking,  he  took  me  aside 


BENJAMIN  FRAtfKLIff.  161 

into  another  room,  and  acquainted  me  that  he  had  been  ad 
vised  by  his  friends  in  England  to  cultivate  a  friendship  with 
me,  as  one  who  was  capable  of  giving  him  the  best  advicer 
and  of  contributing  most  effectually  to  the  making  his  admin 
istration  easy  ;  that  he  therefore  desired  of  all  things  to  have 
a  good  understanding  with  me,  and  he  begged  me  to  be  as 
sured  of  his  readiness  on  all  occasions  to  render  me  every 
service  that  might  be  in  his  power.  He  said  much  to  me, 
also,  of  the  proprietor's  good  disposition  towards  the  province, 
and  of  the  advantage  it  might  be  to  us  all,  and  to  me  in  par 
ticular,  if  the  opposition  that  had  been  so  long  continued  to 
his  measures  was  dropped,  and  harmony  restored  between  him 
and  the  people;  in  effecting  which,  it  was  thought  no  one 
could  be  more  serviceable  than  myself ;  and  I  might  depend 
on  adequate  acknowledgments  and  recompenses,  etc.,  etc. 
The  drinkers,  finding  we  did  not  return  immediately  to  the 
table,  sent  us  a  decanter  of  Madeira,  which  the  governor 
made  liberal  use  of,  and  in  proportion  became  more  profuse 
of  his  solicitations  and  promises. 

My  answers  were  to  this  purpose  :  that  my  circumstances, 
thanks  to  God,  were  such  as  to  make  proprietary  favors  un 
necessary  to  me  ;  and  that,  being  a  member  of  the  Assembly, 
I  could  not  possibly  accept  of  any  ;  that,  however,  I  had  no 
personal  enmity  to  the  proprietary,  and  that,  whenever  the 
public  measures  he  proposed  should  appear  to  be  for  the  good 
of  the  people,  no  one  should  espouse  and  forward  them  more 
zealously  than  myself;  my  past  opposition  having  been 
founded  on  this,  that  the  measures  which  had  been  urged 
were  evidently  intended  to  serve  the  proprietary  interest,  with 
great  prejudice  to  that  of  the  people;  that  I  was  much 
obliged  to  him  (the  governor)  for  his  professions  of  regard  to 
me,  and  that  he  might  rely  on  everything  in  my  power  to 
make  his  administration  as  easy  as  possible,  hoping  at  the 
same  time  that  he  had  not  brought  with  him  the  same  unfor 
tunate  instruction  his  predecessor  had  been  hampered  with. 

On  this  he  did  not  then  explain  himself ;  but  when  he  af 
terwards  came  to  do  business  with  the  Assembly,  they  ap- 


162  BENJAMIN  FHANKLLN. 

peared  again,  the  disputes  were  renewed,  and  I  was  as  active 
as  ever  in  the  opposition,  being  the  penman,  first,  of  the 
request  to  have  a  communication  of  the  instructions,  and  then 
of  the  remarks  upon  them,  which  may  be  found  in  the  votes 
of  the  time,  and  in  the  Historical  Eeview  I  afterward  pub 
lished.  But  between  us  personally  no  enmity  arose ;  we  were 
often  together ;  he  was  a  man  of  letters,  had  seen  much  of 
the  world,  and  was  very  entertaining  and  pleasing  in  conver 
sation.  He  gave  me  the  first  information  that  my  old  friend 
Jas.  Kalph  was  still  alive ;  that  he  was  esteemed  one  of  the 
best  political  writers  in  England ;  had  been  employed  in  the 
dispute  between  Prince  Frederic  and  the  king,  and  had  ob 
tained  a  pension  of  three  hundred  a  year  ;  that  his  reputation 
was  indeed  small  as  a  poet,  Pope  having  damned  his  poetry  in 
the  Dunciad  ;  but  his  prose  was  thought  as  good  as  any  man's. 

The  Assembly  finally  finding  the  proprietary  obstinately 
persisted  in  manacling  their  deputies  with  instructions  incon 
sistent  not  only  with  the  privileges  of  the  people,  but  with  the 
service  of  the  crown,  resolved  to  petition  the  king  against 
them,  and  appointed  me  their  agent  to  go  over  to  England,  to 
present  and  support  the  petition.  The  House  had  sent  up  a 
bill  to  the  governor,  granting  a  sum  of  sixty  thousand  pounds 
for  the  king's  use  (ten  thousand  pounds  of  which  was  sub 
jected  to  the  orders  of  the  then  general,  Lord  Loudon),1 
which  the  governor  absolutely  refused  to  pass,  in  compliance 
with  his  instructions. 

I  had  agreed  with  Captain  Morris,  of  the  packet  at  New 
York,  for  my  passage,  and  my  stores  were  put  on  board,  when 
Lord  Loudon  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  expressly,  as  he  told 
me,  to  endeavor  an  accommodation  between  the  governor  and 
Assembly,  that  his  majesty's  service  might  not  be  obstructed 
by  their  dissensions.  Accordingly,  he  desired  the  governor 
and  myself  to  meet  him,  that  he  might  hear  what  was  to  be 
said  on  both  sides.  We  met  and  discussed  the  business.  In 

1.  Lord  Loudon  was  the  newly-appointed  governor  of  New  York,  and  "  a 
sort  of  military  over-lord  over  all  the  governors,  assemblies,  and  people  of 
the  American  provinces," 


BEXTAMItf  FRANKLIX.  163 

behalf  of  the  Assembly,  I  urged  all  the  various  argument? 
that  may  be  found  in  the  public  papers  of  that  time,  which 
were  of  my  writing,  and  are  printed  with  the  minutes  of  the 
Assembly  ;  and  the  governor  pleaded  his  instructions ;  the 
bond  he  had  given  to  observe  them,  and  his  ruin  if  he  dis 
obeyed,  yet  seemed  not  unwilling  to  hazard  himself  if  Lord 
London  would  advise  it.  This  his  lordship  did  not  choose  to 
do,  though  I  once  thought  I  had  nearly  prevailed  with  him 
to  do  it ;  but  finally  he  rather  chose  to  urge  the  compliance 
of  the  Assembly ;  and  he  entreated  me  to  use  my  endeavors 
with  them  for  that  purpose,  declaring  that  he  would  spare 
none  of  the  king's  troops  for  the  defense  of  our  frontiers,  and 
that,  if  we  did  not  continue  to  provide  for  that  defense  our 
selves,  they  must  remain  exposed  to  the  enemy. 

I  acquainted  the  House  with  what  had  passed,  and,  present 
ing  them  with  a  set  of  resolutions  I  had  drawn  up,  declaring 
our  rights,  and  that  we  did  not  relinquish  our  claims  to  those 
rights,  but  only  suspended  the  exercise  of  them  on  this  occa 
sion  through  force,  against  which  we  protested,  they  at  length 
agreed  to  drop  that  bill,  and  frame  another  conformable  to  the 
proprietary  instructions.  This  of  course  the  governor  passed, 
and  I  was  then  at  liberty  to  proceed  on  my  voyage.  But.  in 
the  mean  time,  the  packet  had  sailed  with  my  sea-stores,  which 
was  some  loss  to  me,  and  my  only  recompense  was  his  lord 
ship's  thanks  for  my  service,  all  the  credit  of  obtaining  the 
accommodation  falling  to  his  share. 

He  set  out  for  New  York  before  me ;  and,  as  the  time  for 
dispatching  the  packet-boats  was  at  his  disposition,  and  there 
were  two  then  remaining  there,  one  of  which,  he  said,  was  to 
sail  very  soon,  I  requested  to  know  the  precise  time,  that  I 
might  not  miss  her  by  any  delay  of  mine.  His  answer  was  : 
"  I  have  given  out  that  she  is  to  sail  on  Saturday  next ;  but  I 
may  let  you  know,  entre  notes,  that  if  you  are  there  by  Mon 
day  morning,  you  will  be  in  time,  but  do  not  delay  longer." 
By  some  accidental  hindrance  at  a  ferry,  it  was  Monday  noon 
before  I  arrived,  and  I  was  much  afraid  she  might  have  sailed, 
as  the  wind  was  fair  ;  but  I  was  soon  made  easy  by  the  infor- 


164  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

mation  that  she  was  still  in  the  harbor,  and  would  not  move 
till  the  next  day.  One  would  imagine  that  I  was  now  on  the 
very  point  of  departing  for  Europe.  I  thought  so  ;  but  I  was 
not  then  so  well  acquainted  with  his  lordship's  character,  of 
which  indecision  was  one  of  the  strongest  features.  I  shall 
give  some  instances.  It  was  about  the  beginning  of  April  that 
I  came  to  New  York,  and  I  think  it  was  near  the  end  of  June 
before  we  sailed.  There  were  then  two  of  the  packet-boats, 
which  had  been  long  in  port,  but  were  detained  for  the  gen 
eral's  letters,  which  were  always  to  be  ready  to-morrow. 
Another  packet  arrived ;  she  too  was  detained ;  and,  before 
we  sailed,  a  fourth  was  expected.  Ours  was  the  first  to  be 
dispatched,  as  having  been  there  longest.  Passengers  were 
engaged  in  all,  and  some  extremely  impatient  to  be  gone,  and 
the  merchants  uneasy  about  their  letters,  and  the  orders  they 
had  given  for  insurance  (it  being  war  time)  for  fall  goods  ;  but 
their  anxiety  availed  nothing ;  his  lordship's  letters  were  not 
ready  ;  and  yet  whoever  waited  on  him  found  him  always  at 
his  desk,  pen  in  hand,  and  concluded  he  must  needs  write 
abundantly. 

Going  myself  one  morning  to  pay  my  respects,  I  found  in 
his  antechamber  one  Innis,  a  messenger  of  Philadelphia,  who 
had  come  from  thence  express  with  a  packet  from  Governor 
Denny  for  the  General.  He  delivered  to  me  some  letters  from 
my  friends  there,  which  occasioned  my  inquiry  when  he  was 
to  return,  and  where  he  lodged,  that  I  might  send  some  letters 
by  him.  He  told  me  he  was  ordered  to  call  to-morrow  at  nine 
for  the  General's  answer  to  the  governor,  and  should  set  oif 
immediately.  I  put  my  letters  into  his  hands  the  same  day. 
A  fortnight  after  I  met  him  again  in  the  same  place.  "So, 
you  are  soon  returned,  Innis?"  "-Returned!  no,  I  am  not 
gone  yet."  "  How  so ? "  "I  have  called  here  by  order  every 
morning  these  two  weeks  past  for  his  lordship's  letter,  and  it 
is  not  yet  ready."  "Is  it  possible,  when  he  is  so  great  a 
writer?  for  I  see  him  constantly  at  his  escritoire."  "Yes," 
says  Innis,  "  but  he  is  like  St.  George  on  the  signs,  always  on 
horseback,  and  never  rides  on."  This  observation  of  the  mes- 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN-.  165 

seiiger  was,  it  seems,  well  founded ;  for,  when  in  England,  I 
understood  that  Mr.  Pitt  gave  it  as  one  reason  for  removing 
this  general,  and  sending  Generals  Amherst  and  Wolfe,  that 
the  minister  never  heard  from  him,  and  could  not  know  what 
he  was  doing. 

This  daily  expectation  of  sailing,  and  all  the  three  packets 
going  down  to  Sandy  Hook,  to  join  the  fleet  there,  the  passen 
gers  thought  it  best  to  be  on  board,  lest  by  a  sudden  order  the 
ships  should  sail,  and  they  be  left  behind.  There,  if  I  remem 
ber  right,  we  were  about  six  weeks,  consuming  our  sea-stores, 
and  obliged  to  procure  more.  At  length  the  fleet  sailed,  the 
General  and  all  his  army  on  board,  bound  to  Louisburg,  with 
intent  to  besiege  and  take  that  fortress  ;  all  the  packet-boats 
in  company  ordered  to  attend  the  General's  ship,  ready  to 
receive  his  dispatches  when  they  should  be  ready.  We  were 
out  five  days  before  we  got  a  letter  with  leave  to  part,  and 
then  our  ship  quitted  the  fleet  and  steered  for  England.  The 
other  two  packets  he  still  detained,  carried  them  with  him  to 
Halifax,  where  he  stayed  some  time  to  exercise  the  men  in  sham 
attacks  upon  sham  forts,  then  altered  his  mind  as  to  besieging 
Louisburg,  and  returned  to  New  York,  with  all  his  troops, 
together  with  the  two  packets  above  mentioned,  and  all  their 
passengers  !  During  his  absence  the  French  and  savages  had 
taken  Fort  George,  on  the  frontier  of  that  province,  and  the 
savages  had  massacred  many  of  the  garrison  after  capitulation. 

I  saw  afterwards  in  London  Captain  Bonnell,  who  com 
manded  one  of  those  packets.  He  told  me  that,  when  he  had 
been  detained  a  month,  he  acquainted  his  lordship  that  his 
ship  was  grown  foul,  to  a  degree  that  must  necessarily  hinder 
her  fast  sailing,  a  point  of  consequence  for  a  packet-boat,  and 
requested  an  allowance  of  time  to  heave  her  down  and  clean 
her  bottom.  He  was  asked  how  long  time  that  would  require. 
He  answered,  three  days.  The  General  replied:  "  If  you  can 
do  it  in  one  day,  I  give  leave;  otherwise  not;  for  you  must 
certainly  sail  the  day  after  to-morrow."  So  he  never  obtained 
leave,  though  detained  afterwards  from  day  to  day  during  full 
three  months. 


166  BESTJAMIK  FRAKKLLN". 

I  saw  also  in  London  one  of  Bennett's  passengers,  who  was 
so  enraged  against  his  lordship  for  deceiving  and  detaining 
him  so  long  at  New  York,  and  then  carrying  him  to  Halifax 
and  back  again,  that  he  swore  he  would  sue  him  for  damages. 
Whether  he  did  or  not,  1  never  heard;  but,  as  he  represented 
the  injury  to  his  affairs,  it  was  very  considerable. 

On  the  whole,  I  wondered  much  how  such  a  man  came  to 
be  intrusted  with  so  important  a  business  as  the  conduct  of  a 
great  army;  but,  having  since  seen  more  of  the  great  world, 
and  the  means  of  obtaining  and  motives  for  giving  places,  my 
wonder  is  diminished.  General  Shirley,  on  whom  the  com 
mand  of  the  army  devolved  upon  the  death  of  Braddock, 
would,  in  my  opinion,  if  continued  in  place,  have  made  a 
much  better  campaign  than  that  of  London  in  1757,  which 
was  frivolous,  expensive,  and  disgraceful  to  our  nation  be 
yond  conception;  for,  though  Shirley  was  not  a  bred  soldier, 
he  was  sensible  and  sagacious  in  himself,  and  attentive  to 
good  advice  from  others,  capable  of  forming  judicious  plans, 
and  quick  and  active  in  carrying  them  into  execution.  Lou- 
don,  instead  of  defending  the  colonies  with  his  great  army, 
left  them  totally  exposed,  while  he  paraded  idly  at  Halifax, 
by  which  means  Fort  George  was  lost;  besides,  he  deranged 
all  our  mercantile  operations,  and  distressed  our  trade,  by  a 
long  embargo  on  the  exportation  of  provisions,  on  pretense  of 
keeping  supplies  from  being  obtained  by  the  enemy,  but  in 
reality  for  beating  down  their  price  in  favor  of  the  con 
tractors,  in  whose  profits,  it  was  said,  perhaps  from  suspicion 
only,  he  had  a  share.  And,  when  at  length  the  embargo  was 
taken  off,  by  neglecting  to  send  notice  of  it  to  Charlestown, 
the  Carolina  fleet  was  detained  near  three  months  longer, 
whereby  their  bottoms  were  so  much  damaged  by  the  worm 
that  a  great  part  of  them  foundered  in  their  passage  home.1 

Shirley  was,  I  believe,  sincerely  glad  of  being  relieved  from 
so  burdensome  a  charge  as  the  conduct  of  an  army  must  be  to 
a  man  unacquainted  with  military  business.  I  was  at  the 

1.  See  Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States,  vol.  ii.  p.  462. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  167 

entertainment  given  by  the  city  of  New  York  to  Lord  Lou- 
don,  on  his  taking  upon  him  the  command.  Shirley,  though 
thereby  superseded,  was  present  also.  There  was  a  great 
company  of  officers,  citizens,  and  strangers,  and,  some  chairs 
having  been  borrowed  in  the  neighborhood,  there  was  one 
among  them  very  low,  which  fell  to  the  lot  of  Mr.  Shirley. 
Perceiving  it  as  I  sat  by  him,  I  said:  "They  have  given  you, 
sir,  too  low  a  seat."  "No  matter,"  says  he,  "Mr.  Franklin, 
I  find  a  loir  seat  the  easiest." 

While  I  was,  as  afore  mentioned,  detained  at  New  York.  I 
received  all  the  accounts  of  the  provisions,  etc.,  that  I  had 
furnished  to  Braddock,  some  of  which  accounts  could  not 
sooner  be  obtained  from  the  different  persons  I  had  employed 
to  assist  in  the  business.  I  presented  them  to  Lord  Loudon, 
desiring  to  be  paid  the  balance.  He  caused  them  to  be  regu 
larly  examined  by  the  proper  officer,  who,  after  comparing 
every  article  with  its  voucher,  certified  them  to  be  right;  and 
the  balance  due  for  which  his  lordship  promised  to  give  me 
an  order  on  the  paymaster.  This  was,  however,  put  off  from 
time  to  time;  and,  though  I  called  often  for  it  by  appointment, 
I  did  not  get  it.  At  length,  just  before  my  departure,  he  told 
me  he  had,  on  better  consideration,  concluded  not  to  mix  his 
accounts  with  those  of  his  predecessors.  "And  you,"  says 
he,  "  when  in  England,  have  only  to  exhibit  your  accounts  at 
the  treasury,  and  you  will  be  paid  immediately." 

I  mentioned,  but  without  effect,  the  great  and  unexpected 
expense  I  had  been  put  to  by  being  detained  so  long  at  New 
York,  as  a  reason  for  my  desiring  to  be  presently  paid;  and 
on  my  observing  that  it  was  not  right  I  should  be  put  to  any 
further  trouble  or  delay  in  obtaining  the  money  I  had  ad 
vanced,  as  I  charged  no  commission  for  my  service,  "  O,  sir," 
says  he,  "you  must  not  think  of  'persuading  us  that  you  are 
no  gainer;  we  understand  better  those  affairs,  and  know  that 
every  one  concerned  in  supplying  the  army  finds  means,  in 
the  doing  it,  to  fill  his  own  pockets."  I  assured  him  that  was 
not  my  case,  and  that  I  had  not  pocketed  a  farthing;  but  he 
appeared  clearly  not  to  believe  me  ;  and,  indeed,  I  have  since 


168  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

learned  that  immense  fortunes  are  often  made  in  such  em 
ployments.  As  to  my  balance,  I  am  not  paid  it  to  this  day, 
of  which  more  hereafter. 

Our  captain  of  the  packet  had  boasted  much,  before  we 
sailed,  of  the  swiftness  of  his  ship;  unfortunately,  when  we 
came  to  sea,  she  proved  the  dullest  of  ninety-six  sail,  to  his 
no  small  mortification.  After  many  conjectures  respecting 
the  cause,  when  we  were  near  another  ship  almost  as  dull  as 
ours,  which,  however,  gained  upon  us,  the  captain  ordered  all 
hands  to  come  aft,  and  stand  as  near  the  ensign  staff  as  pos 
sible.  We  were,  passengers  included,  about  forty  persons. 
While  we  stood  there,  the  ship  mended  her  pace,  and  soon 
left  her  neighbor  far  behind,  which  proved  clearly  what  our 
captain  suspected,  that  she  was  loaded  too  much  by  the  head. 
The  casks  of  water,  it  seems,  had  been  all  placed  forward; 
these  he  therefore  ordered  to  be  moved  further  aft,  on  which 
the  ship  recovered  her  character,  and  proved  the  best  sailer  in 
the  fleet. 

The  captain  said  she  had  once  gone  at  the  rate  of  thirteen 
knots,  which  is  accounted  thirteen  miles  per  hour.  We  had 
on  board,  as  a  passenger,  Captain  Kennedy,  of  the  Navy,  who 
contended  that  it  was  impossible,  and  that  no  ship  ever  sailed 
so  fast,  and  that  there  must  have  been  some  error  in  the 
division  of  the  log-line,  or  some  mistake  in  heaving  the  log. 
A  wager  ensued  between  the  two  captains,  to  be  decided  when 
there  should  be  sufficient  wind.  Kennedy  thereupon  exam 
ined  rigorously  the  log-line,  and,  being  satisfied  with  that,  he 
determined  to  throw  the  log  himself.  Accordingly  some  days 
after,  when  the  wind  blew  very  fair  and  fresh,  and  the  cap 
tain  of  the  packet,  Lutwidge,  said  he  believed  she  then  went 
at  the  rate  of  thirteen  knots,  Kennedy  made  the  experiment, 
and  owned  his  wager  lost. 

The  above  fact  I  give  for  the  sake  of  the  following  observa 
tion.  It  has  been  remarked,  as  an  imperfection  in  the  art  of 
shipbuilding,  that  it  can  never  be  known,  till  she  is  tried, 
whether  a  new  ship  will  or  will  not  be  a  good  sailer;  for  that 
the  model  of  a  good-sailing  ship  has  been  exactly  followed  in 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  169 

a  new  one,  which  has  proved,  on  the  contrary,  remarkably 
dull.  I  apprehend  that  this  may  partly  be  occasioned  by  the 
different  opinions  of  seamen]  respecting  the  modes  of  lading, 
rigging,  and  sailing  of  a  ship ;  each  has  his  system ;  and  the 
same  vessel,  laden  by  the  judgment  and  orders  of  one  cap 
tain,  shall  sail  better  or  worse  than  when  by  the  orders  of 
another.  Besides,  it  scarce  ever  happens  that  a  ship  is 
formed,  fitted  for  the  sea,  and  sailed  by  the  same  person. 
One  man  builds  the  hull,  another  rigs  her,  a  third  lades  and 
sails  her.  No  one  of  these  has  the  advantage  of  knowing 
all  the  ideas  and  experience  of  the  others,  and,  therefore, 
cannot  draw  just  conclusions  from  a  combination  of  the 
whole. 

Even  in  the  simple  operation  of  sailing  when  at  sea,  I  have 
often  observed  different  judgments  in  the  officers  who  com 
manded  the  successive  watches,  the  wind  being  the  same. 
One  would  have  the  sails  trimmed  sharper  or  flatter  than 
another,  so  that  they  seemed  to  have  no  certain  rule  to  govern 
by.  Yet  I  think  a  set  of  experiments  might  be  instituted, 
first,  to  determine  the  most  proper  form  of  the  hull  for  swift 
sailing  ;  next,  the  best  dimensions  and  properest  place  for  the 
masts ;  then  the  form  and  quantity  of  sails,  and  their  posi 
tion,  as  the  wind  may  be ;  and,  lastly,  the  disposition  of  the 
lading.  This  is  an  age  of  experiments,  and  I  think  a  set  ac 
curately  made  and  combined  would  be  of  great  use.  I  am 
persuaded,  therefore,  that  ere  long  some  ingenious  philoso 
pher  will  undertake  it,  to  whom  I  wish  success. 

We  were  several  times  chased  in  our  passage,  but  outsailed 
everything,  and  in  thirty  days  had  soundings.  We  had  a 
good  observation,  and  the  captain  judged  himself  so  near  our 
port,  Falmouth,  that,  if  we  made  a  good  run  in  the  night,  we 
might  be  off  the  mouth  of  that  harbor  in  the  morning,  and  by 
running  in  the  night  might  escape  the  notice  of  the  enemy's 
privateers,  who  often  cruised  near  the  entrance  of  the  chan 
nel.  Accordingly,  all  the  sail  was  set  that  we  could  possibly 
make,  and  the  wind  being  very  fresh  and  fair,  we  went  right 
before  it,  and  made  great  way.  The  captain,  after  his  obser- 


170  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

vation,  shaped  his  course,  as  he  thought,  so  as  to  pass  wide  of 
the  Scilly  Isles ;  but  it  seems  there  is  sometimes  a  strong  in 
draught  setting  up  St.  George's  Channel,  which  deceives  sea 
men  and  caused  the  loss  of  Sir  Cloudesley  Shovel's  squadron. 
This  indraught  was  probably  the  cause  of  what  happened 
to  us. 

We  had  a  watchman  placed  in  the  bow,  to  whom  they  often 
called,  "Look  well  out  before  there," and  he  as  often  answered, 
"  Ay,  ay;"  but  perhaps  had  his  eyes  shut,  and  was  half 
asleep  at  the  time,  they  sometimes  answering,  as  is  said, 
mechanically  ;  for  he  did  not  see  a  light  just  before  us,  which 
had  been  hid  by  the  studding-sails  from  the  man  at  the  helm, 
and  from  the  rest  of  the  watch,  but  by  an  accidental  yaw  of 
the  ship  was  discovered,  and  occasioned  a  great  alarm,  we 
being  very  near  it,  the  light  appearing  to  me  as  big  as  a  cart 
wheel.  It  was  midnight,  and  our  captain  fast  asleep  ;  but 
Captain  Kennedy,  jumping  upon  deck,  and  seeing  the  danger, 
ordered  the  ship  to  wear  round,  all  sails  standing ;  an  opera 
tion  dangerous  to  the  masts,  but  it  carried  us  clear,  and  we 
escaped  shipwreck,  for  we  were  running  right  upon  the  rocks 
on  which  the  light-house  was  erected.  This  deliverance  im 
pressed  me  strongly  with  the  utility  of  light- houses}  and 
made  me  resolve  to  encourage  the  building  of  more  of  them 
in  America,  if  I  should  live  to  return  there. 

In  the  morning  it  was  found  by  the  soundings,  etc.,  that 
we  were  near  our  port,  but  a  thick  fog  hid  the  land  from  our 
sight.  About  nine  o'clock  the  fog  began  to  rise,  and  seemed 
to  be  lifted  up  from  the  water  like  the  curtain  at  a  play-house, 
discovering  underneath  the  town  of  Falmouth,  the  vessels  in 
its  harbor,  and  the  fields  that  surrounded  it.  This  was  a 
most  pleasing  spectacle  to  those  who  had  been  so  long  with 
out  any  other  prospects  than  the  uniform  view  of  a  vacant 
ocean,  and  it  gave  us  the  more  pleasure  as  we  were  now  free 
from  the  anxieties  which  the  state  of  war  occasioned. 

I  set  out  immediately,  with  my  son,  for  London,  and  we 
only  stopped  a  little  by  the  way  to  view  Stonehenge  on  Salis 
bury  Plain,  and  Lord  Pembroke's  house  and  gardens,  with  his 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN'.  171 

very  curious  antiquities  at  Wilton.    We  arrived  in  London  the 
27th  of  July,  1757. J 

As  soon  as  I  was  settled  in  a  lodging  Mr.  Charles  had  pro 
vided  for  me,  I  went  to  visit  Dr.  Fothergill,  to  whom  I  was 
strongly  recommended,  and  whose  counsel  respecting  my  pro 
ceedings  I  was  advised  to  obtain.  He  was  against  an  imme 
diate  complaint  to  government,  and  thought  the  proprietaries 
should  first  be  personally  applied  to,  who  might  possibly  be 
induced  by  the  interposition  and  persuasion  of  some  private 
friends,  to  accommodate  matters  amicably.  I  then  waited  on 
my  old  friend  and  correspondent,  Mr.  Peter  Collinson,  who 
told  me  that  John  Han  bury,  the  great  Virginia  merchant, 
had  requested  to  be  informed  when  I  should  arrive,  that  he 
might  carry  me  to  Lord  Granville's,  who  was  then  President 
of  the  Council  and  wished  to  see  me  as  soon  as  possible.  I 
agreed  to  go  with  him  the  next  morning.  Accordingly  Mr. 
Hanbury  called  for  me  and  took  me  in  his  carriage  to  that 
nobleman's,  who  received  me  with  great  civility  ;  and  after 
some  questions  respecting  the  present  state  of  affairs  in 
America  and  discourse  thereupon,  he  said  to  me:  "You 
Americans  have  wrong  ideas  of  the  nature  of  your  constitu 
tion  ;  you  contend  that  the  king's  instructions  to  his  gover 
nors  are  not  laws,  and  think  yourselves  at  liberty  to  regard 
or  disregard  them  at  your  own  discretion.  But  those  instruc 
tions  are  not  like  the  pocket  instructions  given  to  a  minister 
going  abroad,  for  regulating  his  conduct  in  some  trifling  point 
of  ceremony.  They  are  first  drawn  up  by  judges  learned  in 
the  laws  ;  they  are  then  considered,  debated,  and  perhaps 
amended  in  Council,  after  which  they  are  signed  by  the  king. 
They  are  then,  so  far  as  they  relate  to  you,  the  law  of  the 
land,  for  the  king  is  the  LEGISLATOR  OF  THE  COLONIES."  I 
told  his  lordship  this  was  new  doctrine  to  me.  I  had  always 


1.  "Here  terminates  the  Autobiography,  as  published  by  Win.  Temple 
Franklin  and  his  successors.  What  follows  was  written  the  last  year  of  Dr. 
Krunklin's  life,  and  was  never  before  printed  in  English." — Bigelow^s  Auto 
biography  of  Franklin,  1868,  p.  350,  note. 


172  BENJAMIN   FRAKKLIN. 

understood  from  our  charters  that  our  laws  were  to  be  made 
by  our  Assemblies,  to  be  presented  indeed  to  the  king  for  his 
royal  assent,  but  that  being  once  given  the  king  could  not 
repeal  or  alter  them.  And  as  the  Assemblies  could  not  make 
permanent  laws  without  his  assent,  so  neither  could  he  make 
a  law  for  them  without  theirs.  He  assured  me  I  was  totally 
mistaken.  I  did  not  think  so,  however,  and  his  lordship's 
conversation  having  a  little  alarmed  me  as  to  what  might  be 
the  sentiments  of  the  court  concerning  us,  I  wrote  it  down  ar, 
soon  as  I  returned  to  my  lodgings.  I  recollected  that  about 
twenty  years  before,  a  clause  in  a  bill  brought  into  Parliament 
by  the  ministry  had  proposed  to  make  the  king's  instructions 
laws  in  the  colonies,  but  the  clause  was  thrown  out  by  the 
Commons,  for  which  we  adored  them  as  our  friends  and 
friends  of  liberty,  till  by  their  conduct 1  towards  us  in  1765 
it  seemed  that  they  had  refused  that  point  of  sovereignty  to 
the  king  only  that  they  might  reserve  it  for  themselves. 

After  some  days,  Dr.  Fothergill  having  spoken  to  the  pro 
prietaries,  they  agreed  to  a  meeting  with  me  at  Mr.  T.  Penn's 
house  in  Spring  Garden.  The  conversation  at  first  consisted 
of  mutual  declarations  of  disposition  to  reasonable  accommo 
dations,  but  I  suppose  each  party  had  its  own  ideas  of  what 
should  be  meant  by  reasonable.  We  then  went  into  consider 
ation  of  our  several  points  of  complaint,  which  1  enumerated. 
The  proprietaries  justified  their  conduct  as  well  as  they  could, 
and  I  the  Assembly's.  We  now  appeared  very  wide,  and  so 
far  from  each  other  in  our  opinions  as  to  discourage  all  hope 
of  agreement.  However,  it  was  concluded  that  I  should  give 
them  the  heads  of  our  complaints  in  writing,  and  they  prom 
ised  then  to  consider  them.  I  did  so  soon  after,  but  they  put 
the  paper  into  the  hands  of  their  solicitor,  Ferdinand  John 
Paris,  who  managed  for  them  all  their  law  business  in  their 
great  suit  with  the  neighboring  proprietary  of  Maryland, 
Lord  Baltimore,  which  had  subsisted  seventy  years,  and  wrote 
for  them  all  their  papers  and  messages  in  their  dispute  with  the 

1.  That  is,  by  proclaiming  the  Stamp  Act. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  173 

Assembly.  He  was  a  proud,  angry  man,  and  as  I  had  occa 
sionally,  in  the  answers  of  the  Assembly,  treated  his  papers 
with  some  severity,  they  being  really  weak  in  point  of  argu 
ment,  and  haughty  in  expression,  he  had  conceived  a  mortal 
enmity  to  me,  which  discovering  itself  whenever  we  met,  I 
declined  the  proprietary's  proposal  that  he  and  I  should  dis 
cuss  the  heads  of  complaint  between  our  two  selves,  and  re 
fused  treating  with  any  one  but  them.  They  then  by  his 
advice  put  the  paper  into  the  hands  of  the  Attorney  and  So 
licitor-General  for  their  opinion  and  counsel  upon  it,  where  it 
lay  unanswered  a  year  wanting  eight  days,  during  which 
time  I  made  frequent  demands  of  an  answer  from  the  pro 
prietaries,  but  without  obtaining  any  other  than  that  they 
had  not  yet  received  the  opinion  of  the  Attorney  and  Solicitor- 
General.  What  it  was  when  they  did  receive  it  I  never 
learned,  for  they  did  not  communicate  it  to  me,  but  sent  a  long 
message  to  the  Assembly  drawn  and  signed  by  Paris,  reciting 
my  paper,  complaining  of  its  want  of  formality,  as  a  rudeness 
on  my  part,  and  giving  a  flimsy  justification  of  their  conduct, 
adding  that  they  should  be  willing  to  accommodate  matters  if 
the  Assembly  would  send  out  some  person  of  candor  to  treat 
with  them  for  that  purpose,  intimating  thereby  that  I  was 
not  such. 

The  want  of  formality  or  rudeness  was,  probably,  my  not 
having  addressed  the  paper  to  them  with  their  assumed  titles 
of  True  and  Absolute  Proprietaries  of  the  Province  of  Penn 
sylvania,  which  I  omitted  as  not  thinking  it  necessary  in  a 
paper,  the  intention  of  which  was  only  to  reduce  to  a  certainty 
by  writing,  what  in  conversation  I  had  delivered  mva  voce. 

But  during  this  delay,  the  Assembly  having  prevailed  with 
Governor  Denny  to  pass  an  act  taxing  the  proprietary  estate 
in  common  with  the  estates  of  the  people,  which  was  the  grand 
point  in  dispute,  they  omitted  answering  the  message. 

When  this  act,  however,  came  over,  the  proprietaries,  coun 
selled  by  Paris,  determined  to  oppose  its  receiving  the  royal 
assent.  Accordingly  they  petitioned  the  king  in  council,  and 
a  hearing  was  appointed  in  which  two  lawyers  were  employed 


174  BEXJAMIN   FKANKLIff. 

by  them  against  the  act,  and  two  by  me  in  support  of  it. 
They  alleged  that  the  act  was  intended  to  load  the  proprietary 
estate  in  order  to  spare  those  of  the  people,  and  that  if  it 
were  suffered  to  continue  in  force,  and  the  proprietaries  who 
were  in  odium  with  the  people,  left  to  their  mercy  in  propor 
tioning  the  taxes,  they  would  inevitably  be  ruined.  We  re 
plied  that  the  act  had  no  such  intention,  and  would  have  no 
such  effect.  That  the  assessors  were  honest  and  discreet  men 
under  an  oath  to  assess  fairly  and  equitably,  and  that  any  ad 
vantage  each  of  them  might  expect  in  lessening  his  own  tax 
by  augmenting  that  of  the  proprietaries  was  too  trifling  to  in 
duce  them  to  perjure  themselves.  This  is  the  purport  of  what 
I  remember  as  urged  by  both  sides,  except  that  we  insisted 
strongly  on  the  mischievous  consequences  that  must  attend  a 
repeal,  for  that  the  money,  £100,000,  being  printed  and  given 
to  the  king's  use,  expended  in  his  service,  and  now  spread 
among  the  people,  the  repeal  would  strike  it  dead  in  their 
hands  to  the  ruin  of  many,  and  the  total  discouragement  of 
future  grants,  and  the  selfishness  of  the  proprietors  in  solic 
iting  such  a  general  catastrophe,  merely  from  a  groundless 
fear  of  their  estate  being  taxed  too  highly,  was  insisted  on  in 
the  strongest  terms.  On  this  Lord  Mansfield,  one.  of  the 
counsel,  rose,  and  beckoning  me,  took  me  into  the  clerk's 
chamber,  while  the  lawyers  were  pleading,  and  asked  me  if  I 
was  really  of  opinion  that  no  injury  would  be  done  the  pro 
prietary  estate  in  the  execution  of  the  act.  I  said  certainly. 
*'  Then,"  says  he,  "you  can  have  little  objection  to  enter  into 
an  engagement  to  assure  that  point. "  I  answered,  ' '  None  at 
all."  He  then  called  in  Paris,  and  after  some  discourse,  his 
lordship's  proposition  was  accepted  on  both  sides;  a  paper  to 
the  purpose  was  drawn  up  by  the  clerk  of  the  Council,  which 
I  signed  with  Mr.  Charles,  who  was  also  an  agent  of  the  Prov 
ince  for  their  ordinary  affairs,  when -Lord  Mansfield  returned 
to  the  council  chamber,  where  finally  the  law  was  allowed  to 
pass.  Some  changes  were,  however,  recommended,  and  we 
also  engaged  they  should  be  made  by  a  subsequent  law,  but 
the  Assembly  did  not  think  them  necessary;  for  one  year's 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN".  175 

tax  having  been  levied  by  the  act  before  the  order  of  Council 
arrived,  they  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  the  proceed 
ings  of  the  assessors,  and  on  this  committee  they  put  several 
particular  friends  of  the  proprietaries.  After  a  full  inquiry, 
they  unanimously  signed  a  report  that  they  found  the  tax 
had  been  assessed  with  perfect  equity. 

The  Assembly  looked  into  my  entering  into  the  first  part  of 
the  engagement,  as  an  essential  service  to  the  Province,  since 
it  secured  the  credit  of  the  paper  money  then  spread  over  all 
the  country.  They  gave  me  their  thanks  in  form  when  I  re 
turned.  But  the  proprietaries  were  enraged  at  Governor 
Denny  for  having  passed  the  act,  and  turned  him  out  with 
threats  of  suing  him  for  breach  of  instructions  which  he  had 
given  bond  to  observe.  He,  however,  having  done  it  at  the 
instance  of  the  General,  and  for  His  Majesty's  service,  and 
having  some  powerful  interest  at  court,  despised  the  threats 
and  they  were  never  put  in  execution. 

CONTINUATION-  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

PRESENTED  MAINLY  IN  HIS  OWN  WORDS. 

On  August  17,  1762,  Franklin  wrote  from  Portsmouth  to 
his  friend  Lord  Kames  :  I  am  now  waiting  here  only  for 
a  wind  to  waft  me  to  America  ;  but  cannot  leave  this  happy 
island  and  my  friends  in  it  without  extreme  regret,  though  I 
am  going  to  a  country  and  a  people  that  I  love.  I  am  going 
from  the  old  world  to  the  new  ;  and  I  fancy  I  feel  like  those 
who  are  leaving  this  world  for  the  next :  grief  at  the  parting  ; 
fear  of  the  passage  ;  hope  of  the  future.  These  different  pas 
sions  all  affect  their  minds  at  once  ;  and  these  have  tendered 
me  down  exceedingly." 

Life  in  England  had  been  very  pleasant  for  Franklin,  in 
spite  of  the  prolonged  annoyances  of  the  business  upon  which 
he  had  been  sent.  His  fame  as  a  scientist  had  preceded  him, 
and  he  was  welcomed  as  an  associate  and  friend  by  many  of 
the  most  distinguished  men  in  science  and  literature.  He 


176  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

was  entertained  at  the  fine  country-seats,  and  at  the  univer 
sities  ;  both  Oxford  and  St.  Andrews  conferred  on  him  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws.  He  enjoyed  the  old-world  leisure, 
and  its  opportunities  for  study,  for  travel,  and  for  social 
pleasures.  His  ready  wit  and  homely,  though  profound  wis 
dom  brought  him  into  familiar  companionship  with  the  most 
brilliant  and  cultivated  people  in  London  society.  "As  to 
my  situation  here,"  he  wrote,  "nothing  can  be  more  agree 
able.  Learned  and  ingenious  foreigners  that  come  to  Eng 
land  almost  all  make  a  point  of  visiting  me  ;  for  my  reputa 
tion  is  still  higher  abroad  than  here.  Several  of  the  foreign 
ambassadors  have  assiduously  cultivated  my  acquaintance, 
treating  me  as  one  of  their  corps."  England  was  at  war  with 
France,  and,  with  the  fall  of  Quebec,  Canada  was  within  her 
grasp.  Franklin  wrote  many  letters  and  an  able  pamphlet 
urging  the  government  to  add  Canada  to  the  British  posses 
sions  in  America.  Writing  prophetically  of  the  future  great 
ness  of  his  own  country,  he  said:  "I  have  long  been  of 
opinion  that  the  foundations  of  the  future  grandeur  and 
stability  of  the  British  empire  lie  in  America.  ...  I  am 
therefore  by  no  means  for  restoring  Canada.  If  we  keep  it, 
all  the  country  from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Mississippi  will 
in  another  century  be  filled  with  British  people.  '  Britain  itself 
will  become  vastly  more  populous  by  the  immense  increase  to 
its  commerce ;  the  Atlantic  sea  will  be  covered  with  your 
trading  ships ;  and  your  naval  power,  thence  continually  in 
creasing,  wrill  extend  your  influence  round  the  whole  globe, 
and  awe  the  world." 

But  Franklin  found  quite  as  much  pleasure  in  assisting  his 
young  friend  Mary  Stevenson  with  her  studies  as  in  giving 
advice  to  His  Majesty's  ministers.  He  accompanies  a  parcel 
of  books  with  this  helpful  advice:  "I  would  advise  you  to 
read  with  a  pen  in  your  hand,  and  enter  in  a  little  book  short 
hints  of  what  you  find  that  is  curious,  or  that  may  be  useful ; 
for  this  will  be  the  best  method  of  imprinting  such  particulars 
in  your  memory,  where  they  will  be  ready,  either  for  practice 
on  some  future  occasion,  if  they  are  matters  of  utility,  or  at 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIX.  177 

least  to  adorn  and  improve  your  conversation,  if  they  are 
rather  points  of  curiosity. 

"  And  as  many  of  the  terms  of  science  are  such  as  you  can 
not  have  met  with  in  your  common  reading,  and  may  there 
fore  be  unacquainted  with,  I  think  it  would  be  well  for  you 
to  have  a  good  dictionary  at  hand,  to  consult  immediately 
when  you  meet  with  a  word  you  do  not  comprehend  the  pre 
cise  meaning  of.  This  may  at  first  seem  troublesome  and 
interrupting ;  but  it  is  a  trouble  that  will  daily  diminish,  as 
you  will  daily  find  less  and  less  occasion  for  your  dictionary, 
as  you  become  more  and  more  acquainted  with  the  terms ; 
and  in  the  mean  time  you  will  read  with  more  satisfaction, 
because  with  more  understanding. 

"  When  any  point  occurs  in  which  you  would  be  glad  to 
have  further  information  than  your  book  affords  you,  I  beg 
you  would  not  in  the  least  apprehend  that  I  should  think  it 
a  trouble  to  receive  and  answer  your  questions.  It  will  be  a 
pleasure,  and  no  trouble.  For  though  I  may  not  be  able,  out 
of  my  own  little  stock  of  knowledge,  to  afford  you  what  you 
require,  I  can  easily  direct  you  to  the  books  where  it  may 
most  readily  be  found." 

His  mission  was  at  last  successfully  performed,  and  duty 
called  Franklin  back  to  his  home  in  Philadelphia.  He  was 
now  fifty-six  years  old,  and  he  counted  upon  spending  the 
remainder  of  his  days  in  the  enjoyable  leisure  of  private  life, 
with  science  as  his  chief  occupation.  But  this  was  not  to  be  ; 
his  services  were  necessary  for  the  public  welfare.  "  Busi 
ness,  public  and  private,  consumes  all  my  time  ;  I  must  return 
to  England  for  repose.  With  such  thoughts  I  flatter  myself, 
and  need  some  kind  friend  to  put  me  often  in  mind  that  old 
trees  cannot  safely  be  transplanted."  Thus  he  wrote  to  Mary 
Stevenson,  and  very  soon,  indeed,  he  was  on  his  way  to  Eng 
land,  not  to  find  the  repose  of  an  English  home  which  he  had 
dreamed  about,  but  to  act  a  second  time  as  the  busy  and 
responsible  agent  of  the  colony  of  Pennsylvania.  Early  in 
December,  1764,  he  was  once  more  settled  in  his  familiar 
rooms  in  Craven  Street,  and  when  the  news  of  his  safe  arrival 


178  BENJAMIN   FRANKLIJST. 

reached  Philadelphia,  the  bells  were  kept  ringing  until  mid 
night.  Soon  after  he  reached  London,  he  wrote  the  following 
letter  to  an  English  friend,  describing  the  events  of  the  inter 
val  of  two  years  : 

u  You  require  my  history  from  the  time  I  set  sail  for  Amer 
ica.  I  left  England  about  the  end  of  August,  1762,  in  com 
pany  with  ten  sail  of  merchant-ships,  under  a  convoy  of  a 
man-of-war.  We  had  a  pleasant  passage  to  Madeira,  where 
we  were  kindly  received  and  entertained,  our  nation  being 
then  in  high  honor  with  the  Portuguese,  on  account  of  the 
protection  we  were  then  affording  them  against  the  united 
invasions  of  France  and  Spain.  It  is  a  fertile  island,  and  the 
different  heights  and  situations  among  its  mountains  afford 
such  temperaments  of  air,  that  all  the  fruits  of  northern  and 
southern  countries  are  produced  there, — corn,  grapes,  apples, 
peaches,  oranges,  lemons,  plantains,  bananas,  etc.  Here  we 
furnished  ourselves  with  fresh  provisions,  and  refreshments 
of  all  kinds ;  and,  after  a  few  days,  proceeded  on  our  voyage, 
running  southward  until  we  got  into  the  trade-winds,  and 
then  with  them  westward,  till  we  drew  near  the  coast  of 
America.  The  weather  was  so  favorable  that  there  were  few 
days  in  which  we  could  not  visit  from  ship  to  ship,  dining 
with  each  other,  and  on  board  of  the  man-of-war,  which  made 
the  time  pass  agreeably,  much  more  so  than  when  one  goes 
in  a  single  ship  ;  for  this  was  like  traveling  in  a  moving  vil 
lage,  with  all  one's  neighbors  aj>out  one. 

"On  the  1st  of  November  I  arrived  safe  and  well  at  my 
own  home,  after  an  absence  of  near  six  years;  found  my  wife 
and  daughter  well,  the  latter  grown  quite  a  woman,  with 
many  amiable  accomplishments  acquired  in  my  absence;  and 
my  friends  as  hearty  and  affectionate  as  ever,  with  whom  my 
house  was  filled  for  many  days,  to  congratulate  me  on  my 
return.  I  had  been  chosen  yearly  during  my  absence  to  rep 
resent  the  city  of  Philadelphia  in  our  Provincial  Assembly ; 
and,  on  my  appearance  in  the  House,  they  voted  me  three 
thousand  pounds  sterling  for  my  services  in  England,  and 
their  thanks,  delivered  by  the  Speaker.  In  February  follow- 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  179 

ing,  my  son  arrived  with  my  new  daughter ;  for  with  my 
consent  and  approbation  he  married,  soon  after  I  left  Eng 
land,  a  very  agreeable  West  India  lady,  with  whom  he  is  very 
happy.  I  accompanied  him  to  his  government,  where  he  met 
with  the  kindest  reception  from  the  people  of  all  ranks,  and 
has  lived  with  them  ever  since  in  the  greatest  harmony.  A 
river  only  parts  that  province  and  ours,  and  his  residence  is 
within  seventeen  miles  of  me,  so  that  we  frequently  see  each 
other. 1 

"  In  the  spring  of  1763  I  set  out  on  a  tour  through  all  the 
northern  colonies  to  inspect  and  regulate  the  post-offices  in 
the  several  provinces.  In  this  journey  I  spent  the  summer, 
traveled  about  sixteen  hundred  miles,  and  did  not  get  home 
till  the  beginning  of  November.  The  Assembly  sitting  through 
the  following  winter,  and  warm  disputes  arising  between  them 
and  the  governor,  I  became  wholly  engaged  in  public  affairs  ; 
for,  besides  my  duty  as  an  Assemblyman,  I  had  another  trust 
to  execute — that  of  being  one  of  the  commissioners  appointed 
by  law  to  dispose  of  the  public  money  appropriated  to  the 
raising  and  paying  an  army  to  act  against  the  Indians,  and 
defend  the  frontiers.  And  then,  in  December,  we  had  two 
insurrections  of  the  back  inhabitants  of  our  province,  by 
whom  twenty  poor  Indians  were  murdered,  that  had,  from 
the  first  settlement  of  the  province,  lived  among  us,  under  the 
protection  of  our  government.  This  gave  me  a  good  deal  of 
employment ;  for,  as  the  rioters  threatened  further  mischief, 
and  their  actions  seemed  to  be  approved  by  an  ever- acting 
party,  I  wrote  a  pamphlet  entitled  A  Narrative,  etc.  (which  I 
think  I  sent  to  you),  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  our  weak 
government,  by  rendering  the  proceedings  of  the  rioters  un 
popular  and  odious.2  This  had  a  good  effect;  and  afterwards, 


1.  The  English  Government  made  his  son  William  governor  of  New  Jersey, 
hoping  thus  to  secure  the  father's  loyalty,    The  sou  became  a  royalist  and 
finally  a  Tory  refugee,  but  the  father's  patriotism  was  not  affected  iu  the 
least. 

2.  The  full  title  of  the  pamphlet  was  "  A  Narrative  of  the  Late  Massacres." 
The  event  is  known  in  history  as  the  "  Paxton  Massacre,"  the  leaders  being 
the  "Paxton  Boys,"1  lawless  frontiersmen,  from  a  settlement  bearing  that 
name. 


180  BENJAMIN"   FRANKLIN. 

when  a  great  body  of  them,  with  arms,  marched  toward  the 
capital,  in  defiance  of  the  government,  with  an  avowed  resolu 
tion  to  put  to  death  one  hundred  and  forty  Indian  converts 
then  under  its  protection,  I  formed  an  association,  at  the 
governor's  request,  for  his  and  their  defense,  we  having  no 
militia.  Nearly  one  thousand  of  the  citizens  accordingly  took 
arms.  Governor  Penn  l  made  my  house  for  some  time  his 
headquarters,  and  did  everything  by  my  advice ;  so  that  for 
about  forty-eight  hours  I  was  a  very  great  man,  as  I  had  been 
once  some  years  before,  in  a  time  of  public  danger. 2 

"But  the  fighting  face  we  put  on,  and  the  reasonings  we 
used  with  the  insurgents  (for  1  went,  at  the  request  of  the 
governor  and  council,  with  three  others,  to  meet  and  discourse 
with  them),  having  turned  them  back  and  restored  quiet  to 
the  city,  I  became  a  less  man  than  ever ;  for  I  had,  by  this 
transaction,  made  myself  many  enemies  among  the  populace  ; 
and  the  governor  (with  whose  family  our  public  disputes  had 
long  placed  me  in  an  unfriendly  light,  and  the  services  I  had 
lately  rendered  him  not  being  of  the  kind  that  make  a  man 
acceptable),  thinking  it  a  favorable  opportunity,  joined  the 
whole  weight  of  the  proprietary  interest  to  get  me  out  of  the 
Assembly,  which  was  accordingly  effected  at  the  last  election, 
by  a  majority  of  about  twenty-five  in  four  thousand  voters. 

* '  The  House,  however,  when  they  met  in  October,  approved 
of  the  resolutions  taken,  while  I  was  speaker,  of  petitioning 
the  crown  for  a  change  of  government,  and  requested  me  to 
return  to  England  to  prosecute  that  petition  ;  which  service  I 
accordingly  undertook,  and  embarked  at  the  beginning  of 
November  last,  being  accompanied  to  the  ship,  sixteen  miles, 
by  a  cavalcade  of  three  hundred  of  my  friends,  who  filled  our 
sails  with  their  good  wishes,  and  I  arrived  in  thirty  days  at 
London.  Here  I  have  been  ever  since,  engaged  in  that  and 
other  public  affairs  relating  to  America,  which  are  like  to  con 
tinue  some  time  longer  upon  my  hands  ;  but  I  promise  you 
that  when  I  am  quit  of  these  I  will  engage  in  no  other  ;  and 

1.  The  son  of  one  of  the  proprietaries. 

2.  When  he  assisted  General  Braddock.    See  p.  155. 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLI2T.  181 

that,  as  soon  as  I  have  recovered  the  ease  and  leisure  I  hope 
for,  the  task  you  require  of  me,  of  finishing  my  Art  of  Virtue, 
shall  be  performed. " 

The  ease  and  leisure  that  Franklin  hoped  for  never  came. 
He  thought  that  his  business  would  keep  him  in  England 
about  ten  months  at  most,  but  he  did  not  return  for  ten  years. 
He  worked  faithfully  for  his  petition,  but  the  attention  of  the 
government  was  occupied  with  more  important  matters.  The 
war  with  France  had  left  a  heavy  burden  of  debt,  and  Eng 
land  had  determined  to  make  the  colonies  bear  the  larger 
part  of  this  burden.  The  colonists  were  to  be  forced  to  buy 
all  their  goods  in  England,  and  not  to  be  permitted  to  make 
for  themselves  those  articles  which  England  had  to  sell  to 
them.  Finally,  the  fatal  Stamp  Act  was  passed,  and  Franklin 
wrote  to  a  friend  in  America:  "Depend  upon  it,  my  good 
neighbor,  I  took  every  step  in  my  power  to  prevent  the  passing 
of  the  Stamp  Act.  Nobody  could  be  more  concerned  and  in 
terested  than  myself  to  oppose  it  sincerely  and  heartily.  But 
the  tide  was  too  strong  against  us.  The  nation  was  provoked 
by  American  claims  of  independence,  and  all  parties  joined  in 
resolving  by  this  act  to  settle  the  point.  We  might  as  well  have 
hindered  the  sun's  setting.  That  we  could  not  do.  But  since 
it  is  down,  my  friend,  and  it  may  be  long  before  it  rises  again, 
let  us  make  as  good  a  night  of  it  as  we  can.  We  can  still  light 
candles.  Frugality  and  industry  will  go  a  great  way  towards 
indemnifying  us.  Idleness  and  pride  tax  with  a  heavier  hand 
than  kings  and  parliaments.  If  we  can  get  rid  of  the  former 
we  may  easily  bear  the  latter." 

It  is  evident  from  these  words  that  Franklin,  at  first,  saw 
no  course  left  to  the  colonists  but  patient  endurance.  Sur 
rounded  as  he  was  daily  with  evidences  of  the  might  and 
majesty  of  England,  it  seemed  to  him  that  successful  resist 
ance  would  be  impossible.  He  believed  that  the  act  would  be 
enforced,  and  being  invited  by  the  government  to  mention 
some  "  honest  and  responsible"  man  in  Philadelphia  to  serve 
as  stamp-distributer,  he  named  Mr.  Hughes,  one  of  his  ac 
quaintances.  When  the  news  of  these  events  reached  Phila- 


182  BENJAMIN"  FRANKLIN". 

delphia,  the  people  rose  in  a  wild  frenzy  of  indignation,  not 
only  denouncing  the  odious  acts  of  Parliament,  but  also  revil 
ing  Franklin  in  bitterest  terms,  as  having  been  in  some  way 
responsible  for  the  unjust  laws.  It  was  known  that  attempts 
had  been  made  to  bribe  him,  and  now  it  was  believed  that  he 
had  been  won  over  to  the  royalists.  But  they  soon  had  reason 
to  be  ashamed  of  their  suspicions.  Franklin's  patriotism  was 
above  question.  When  he  fully  learned  the  state  of  feeling 
throughout  the  colonies,  he  became  the  most  sturdy  champion 
of  the  rights  claimed  by  his  countrymen,  and  in  explaining 
and  defending  the  views  of  the  colonists  he  performed  a  ser 
vice  that  no  other  American  then  living  could  have  rendered  ; 
for  so  extensive  and  accurate  was  his  knowledge  of  American 
affairs,  and  so  general  was  the  respect  paid  to  his  authority 
and  opinions  in  England,  that  the  repeal  of  the  hated  acts  was 
due  in  large  measure  to  his  untiring  efforts.  He  was  sum 
moned  before  the  House  of  Commons  to  give  testimony  con 
cerning  the  colonies,  and  when  asked  whether  the  colonists 
"would  submit  to  the  Stamp  Act,  if  it  were  modified,  the 
obnoxious  parts  taken  out,  and  the  duty  reduced  to  some 
particulars  of  small  moment,"  he  replied  with  forcible  brevity: 
"No,  they  will  never  submit  to  it."  When  asked  whether 
they  could  do  without  British  goods,  he  said:  "The  goods 
they  take  from  Britain  are  either  necessaries,  mere  conveni 
ences,  or  superfluities.  The  first,  as  cloth,  etc.,  with  a  little 
industry  they  can  make  at  home  ;  the  second  they  can  do 
without  until  they  are  able  to  provide  them  among  themselves; 
and  the  last,  which  are  much  the  greatest  part,  they  will  strike 
off  immediately."  The  truth  of  this  statement  was  soon  real 
ized  by  the  British  merchants.  He  was  asked  whether  the 
people  would  not  use  the  stamps,  if  without  them  they  would 
be  "unable  to  obtain  any  right  or  recover  by  law  any  debt," 
and  replied  :  "  It  is  hard  to  .say  what  they  would  do.  I  can 
only  judge  what  other  people  will  think,  and  how  they  will 
act,  by  what  I  feel  within  myself.  I  have  a  great  many  debts 
due  to  me  in  America,  and  I  would  rather  they  should  remain 
unrecoverable  by  any  law  than  submit  to  the  Stamp  Act." 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  183 

The 'Stamp  Act  was  repealed  March  18,  1766,  and  the  good 
news  was  received  with  shouts  of  joy  in  the  colonies.  The 
citizens  of  Philadelphia  celebrated  the  event  with  a  grand 
procession,  of  which  the  principal  feature  was  "a  barge,  forty 
feet  long,  named  FRANKLIN,  from  which  salutes  were  fired  as 
it  passed  along  the  streets."  The  recent  distrust  of  their 
great  representative  was  changed  to  enthusiastic  devotion. 
Franklin's  pleasant  method  of  celebrating  the  event  is  shown 
by  the  following  letter  to  his  wife  : 

"  As  the  Stamp  Act  is  at  length  repealed,  I  am  willing  you 
should  have  a  new  gown,  which  you  may  suppose  I  did  not 
send  sooner,  as  I  knew  you  would  not  like  to  be  finer  than 
your  neighbors,  unless  in  a  gown  of  your  own  spinning.  Had 
the  trade  between  the  two  countries  totally  ceased,  it  was  a 
comfort  to  me  to  recollect  that  I  had  once  been  clothed  from 
head  to  foot  in  woolen  and  linen  of  my  wife's  manufacture, 
that  I  never  was  prouder  of  any  dress  in  my  life,  and  that 
she  and  her  daughter  might  do  it  again  if  it  was  necessary. 
I  told  the  Parliament  that  it  was  my  opinion,  before  the  old 
clothes  of  the  Americans  were  worn  out  they  might  have 
new  ones  of  their  own  making.  I  have  sent  you  a  fine  piece 
of  Pompadour  satin,  fourteen  yards,  cost  eleven  shillings  a 
yard ;  a  silk  negligee  and  a  petticoat  of  brocaded  lutestring 
for  my  dear  Sally  ;  with  two  dozen  gloves,  four  bottles  of 
lavender  water,  and  two  little  reels.  The  reels  are  to  screw 
on  the  edge  of  the  table,  when  she  would  wind  silk  or  thread. 
The  skein  is  to  be  put  over  them,  and  winds  better  than  if 
held  in  two  hands.  There  is  also  a  gimcrack  corkscrew, 
which  you  must  get  some  brother  gimcrack  to  show  you  the 
use  of.  In  the  chest  is  a  parcel  of  books  for  my  friend 
Mr.  Coleman,  and  another  for  Cousin  Colbert.  Pray,  did  he 
receive  those  I  sent  him  before?  I  send  you  also  a  box 
with  three  fine  cheeses.  Perhaps  a  bit  of  them  may  be  left 
when  I  come  home.  Mrs.  Stevenson  has  been  very  diligent 
and  serviceable  in  getting  these  things  together  for  you,  and 
presents  her  best  respects,  as  does  her  daughter,  to  both  you 
and  Sally." 


184  BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 

Franklin's  valuable  services  were  generally  recognized 
throughout  the  colonies,  and  he  was  appointed  agent  also  for 
Georgia,  New  Jersey,  and  Massachusetts.  In  reality  he  was 
the  representative  of  all  America,  and  was  so  regarded  in 
England.  For  several  years  he  continued  to  labor  earnestly 
to  bring  about  a  reconciliation  between  the  colonies  and  the 
mother  country.  But  it  proved  to  be  an  impossible  task. 
The  feeling  of  hostility  was  becoming  each  year  more  intense 
and  bitter  on  both  sides.  The  Stamp  Act  had  been  repealed, 
not  because  it  was  unjust,  but  because  it  was  injuring  English 
trade,  and  the  government  continued  busily  to  devise  new 
measures  of  oppression  that  could  be  successfully  enforced. 
Franklin's  spirit  was  always  hopeful,  and  he  believed,  almost 
to  the  last,  that  the  object  so  near  his  heart,  the  restoration 
of  peace  and  harmony,  would  be  accomplished.  Yet  in  1768 
he  wrote  sadly  :  "  Being  born  and  bred  in  one  of  the  countries, 
and  having  lived  long  and  made  many  agreeable  connections 
of  friendship  in  the  other,  I  wish  all  prosperity  to  both  ;  but 
I  have  talked  and  written  so  much  and  so  long  on  the  sub 
ject,  that  my  acquaintances  are  weary  of  hearing  and  the 
public  of  reading  any  more  of  it,  which  begins  to  make  me 
weary  of  talking  and  writing ;  especially  as  I  do  not  find 
that  I  have  gained  any  point  in  either  country,  except  that  of 
rendering  myself  suspected  by  my  impartiality ;  in  England 
of  being  too  much  an  American,  and  in  America  of  being  too 
much  an  Englishman. " 

The  position  of  Franklin  became  more  and  more  difficult  as 
the  spirit  of  resistance  increased  in  America.  His  opinion 
was  still  sought  by  English  statesmen  upon  all  questions 
pertaining  to  the  colonies.  But  finally,  when  they  saw  that 
his  sympathies  were  entirely  enlisted  upon  the  American 
side,  and  that  he  could  not  be  flattered  or  bribed  into  a 
change  of  conviction,  they  turned  against  him  with  the 
spirit  of  bitterest  enmity  and  hatred.  The  office  of  post 
master  was  taken  from  him  ;  he  was  attacked  by  the  news 
papers,  and  threatened  with  arrest  for  treason  ;  Lord  Sand 
wich  denounced  him  in  the  House  of  Lords  as  "  one  of  the 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIlf.  185 

bitterest  and  most  mischievous  enemies  this  country  has  ever 
known."  His  friends  warned  him  of  the  danger  of  remaining 
longer  in  England,  but  he  did  not  leave  until  it  was  certain 
that  he  could  do  nothing  more  for  the  colonies. 

To  friends  at  home  he  wrote:  "My  situation  here  is 
thought  by  many  to  be  a  little  hazardous ;  for  if  by  some 
accident  the  troops  and  people  of  New  England  should  come 
to  blows,  I  should  probably  be  taken  up ;  the  ministerial 
people  affecting  everywhere  to  represent  me  as  the  cause  of 
all  the  misunderstanding.  And  I  have  been  frequently 
cautioned  to  secure  all  my  papers,  and  by  some  advised  to 
withdraw.  But  I  venture  to  stay,  in  compliance  with  the 
wish  of  others,  till  the  result  of  the  Congress  arrives,  since 
they  suppose  my  being  here  might  on  that  occasion  be  of 
use.  And  I  confide  in  my  innocence,  that  the  worst  that  can 
happen  to  me  will  be  an  imprisonment  upon  suspicion  ;  though 
that  is  a  thing  I  should  much  desire  to  avoid,  as  it  may  be 
expensive  and  vexatious,  as  well  as  dangerous  to  my  health." 
His  last  official  act  was  to  place  in  the  hands  of  the  ministry 
the  Declaration  of  Rights.  His  last  day  in  London  was  spent 
with  his  friend  Dr.  Priestley,  who  says  that  much  of  the 
time  **  he  was  looking  over  a  number  of  American  news 
papers,  directing  me  what  to  extract  from  them  for  the  Eng 
lish  ones ;  and  in  reading  them  he  was  frequently  not  able 
to  proceed  for  the  tears  literally  running  down  his  cheeks." 
His  departure  signified  that  all  hope  of  reconciliation  and 
peace  was  gone  forever. 

He  reached  Philadelphia  May  5,  1775,  and  found  things 
strangely  changed.  His  wife  had  died  during  his  absence, 
his  son  was  alienated  by  politics,  his  daughter  had  grown  to 
womanhood  and  was  married  to  a  man  whom  he  had  never 
seen.  The  country  was  in  a  turmoil  of  excitement  ;  war 
had  already  begun,  the  battles  of  Lexington  and  Concord 
having  occurred  while  he  was  on  the  ocean.  The  effect  of 
these  events  upon  Franklin's  feelings  is  shown  by  the  letter 
he  wrote,  a  few  weeks  later,  to  one  of  his  closest  friends  in 
England  : 


186  BENJAMIN 

"Mr.  Stralian : — You  are  a  member  of  Parliament,  and 
one  of  that  majority  which  has  doomed  my  country  to  de 
struction.  You  have  begun  to  burn  our  towns  and  murder 
our  people.  Look  upon  your  hands ;  they  are  stained  with 
the  blood  of  your  relations  !  You  and  I  were  long  friends ; 
you  are  now  my  enemy,  and  I  am  yours. 

"  B.  FRANKLIN." 

In  a  letter  to  his  friend  Dr.  Priestley  he  wrote  :  * '  Tell  our 
dear,  good  friend  Dr.  Price,  who  sometimes  has  his  doubts 
and  despondencies  about  our  firmness,  that  America  is  deter 
mined  and  unanimous,  a  very  few  Tories  and  placemen  ex- 
cepted,  who  will  probably  soon  export  themselves.  Britain, 
at  the  expense  of  three  millions,  has  killed  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Yankees,  this  campaign,  which  is  twenty  thousand 
pounds  a  head  ;  and  at  Bunker's  Hill  she  gained  a  mile  of 
ground,  half  of  which  she  lost  again  by  our  taking  post  at 
Ploughed  Hill.  During  the  same  time  sixty  thousand  children 
have  been  born  in  America.  From  these  data  his  mathemat 
ical  head  will  easily  calculate  the  time  and  expense  necessary 
to  kill  us  all,  and  conquer  our  whole  territory." 

On  the  day  after  his  landing  Franklin  was  elected  a  dele 
gate  to  the  Continental  Congress,  of  which  he  was  a  member 
fourteen  months.  He  was  appointed  to  all  the  important  com 
mittees,  and  presented  the  "first  sketch  of  a  plan  of  confed 
eration  "  which  is  known  to  have  been  presented  to  Congress. 
He  was  made  postmaster-general,  was  sent  to  Cambridge  to 
confer  with  Washington  upon  military  affairs,  and  to  Montreal 
to  consult  with  General  Arnold  in  regard  to  possible  aid  from 
Canada.  This  last  was  almost  a  cruel  task  to  put  upon  one 
so  old,  but  he  answered  cheerfully  every  demand  made  upon 
him  for  his  country's  good.  On  reaching  Saratoga  he  wrote  : 
'*  I  begin  to  apprehend  that  I  have  undertaken  a  fatigue  that 
at  my  time  of  life  may  prove  too  much  for  me  ;  so  I  sit  down 
to  write  to  a  few  friends  by  way  of  farewell."  From  this 
perilous  and  fruitless  undertaking  he  returned  to  be  at  once 
made  presiding  officer  of  a  convention  to  frame  a  constitution 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN.  187 

for  the  independent  State  of  Pennsylvania.  As  the  war  ad 
vanced  it  became  important  to  establish  commercial  relations 
with  the  friendly  nations  of  Europe,  and  especially  to  obtaio 
loans  of  money  for  the  support  of  the  armies.  France  par- 
ticularly,  it  was  believed,  would  aid  the  new  nation,  being 
herself  an  enemy  of  England.  Accordingly  Congress,  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  sent  Franklin  to  test  the  good-will  of  the 
French  people  and  the  generosity  of  their  king.  When  the 
vote  was  announced,  he  whispered  to  a  friend  :  "I  am  old 
and  good  for  nothing,  but,  as  the  store-keepers  say  of  their 
remnants  of  cloth,  *  I  am  but  a  fag-end,  and  you  may  have  me 
for  what  you  please.' "  He  was  now  seventy  years  old,  and 
was  about  to  undertake  the  most  difficult  and  responsible 
mission  of  his  whole  public  career.  He  did  not  set  out,  how 
ever,  until  he  had  signed  his  name  to  that  remarkable  docu 
ment,  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

During  the  discussion  of  the  Declaration,  Jefferson,  its  chief 
author,  was  much  annoyed  by  the  criticisms  of  the  members, 
and  Franklin,  sitting  near  him  at  the  time,  consoled  him  in 
the  following  manner :  "  I  have  made  it  a  rule,  whenever  in 
my  power,  to  avoid  becoming  the  draughtsman  of  papers  to  be 
reviewed  by  a  public  body.  I  took  my  lesson  from  an  inci 
dent  which  I  will  relate  to  you.  When  I  was  a  journeyman 
printer,  one  of  my  companions,  an  apprenticed  hatter,  hav 
ing  served  out  his  time,  was  about  to  open  shop  for  himself. 
His  first  concern  was  to  have  a  handsome  sign-board,  with 
a  proper  inscription.  He  composed  it  in  these  words :  John 
Thompson,  Hatter,  makes  and  sells  hats  for  ready  money, 
with  a  figure  of  a  hat  subjoined.  But  he  thought  he  would 
submit  it  to  his  friends  for  their  amendments.  The  first  he 
showed  it  to  thought  the  word  hatter  tautologous,  because 
followed  by  the  words  makes  hats,  which  showed  he  was  a 
hatter.  It  was  struck  out.  The  next  observed  that  the  word 
makes  might  as  well  be  omitted,  because  his  customers  would 
not  care  who  made  the  hats ;  if  good,  and  to  their  mind, 
they  would  buy,  by  whomsoever  made.  He  struck  it  out.  A 
third  said  he  thought  the  worde  for  ready  money  were  use- 


188  BENJAMIN"   FRANKLIN". 

less,  as  it  was  not  the  custom  of  the  place  to  sell  on  credit. 
Every  one  who  purchased  expected  to  pay.  They  were  parted 
with,  and  the  inscription  now  stood,  John  Thompson  sells 
hats.  '  Sells  hats '  ?  says  his  next  friend ;  '  why,  nobody 
will  expect  you  to  give  them  away.  What,  then,  is  the 
use  of  that  word  ? '  It  was  stricken  out,  and  hats  followed, 
the  rather  as  there  was  one  painted  on  the  board.  So  his 
inscription  was  ultimately  reduced  to  John  Thompson,  with 
the  figure  of  a  hat  subjoined." 

Franklin  sailed  late  in  October,  1776,  and  reached  France 
in  safety,  although  the  passage  was  stormy  and  the  little  ship 
Reprisal  was  several  times  chased  by  English  cruisers.  Soon 
after  landing  he  wrote  good-naturedly  to  a  lady  friend  in 
England  :  "  You  are  too  early,  hussy,  as  well  as  too  saucy,  in 
calling  me  rebel ;  you  should  wait  for  the  event  which  will 
determine  whether  it  is  a  rebellion  or  only  a  revolution  ....  I 
know  you  wish  you  could  see  me  ;  but,  as  you  cannot,  I  will 
describe  myself  to  you.  Figure  me  in  your  mind  as  jolly  as 
formerly,  and  as  strong  and  hearty,  only  a  few  years  older  ; 
very  plainly  dressed,  wearing  my  thin,  gray,  straight  hair, 
that  peeps  out  under  my  only  coiffure,  a  fine  fur  cap,  which 
comes  down  over  my  forehead  almost  to  my  spectacles.  Think 
how  this  must  appear  among  the  powdered  heads  of  Paris  ! " 
The  French  people  received  this  "plainly  dressed"  represent 
ative  of  the  new  republic  with  enthusiasm  and  even  extrava 
gant  demonstrations  of  delight.  Crowds  filled  the  streets  to 
see  him  pass  ;  nobles  and  statesmen,  philosophers  and  men  of 
fashion,  all  united  in  welcoming  the  American  Solon  ;  his  face 
was  seen  in  every  print-shop,  and  on  finger-rings,  bracelets, 
and  snuff-boxes.  Poets  wrote  sonnets  upon  him ;  women  of 
rank  and  fashion  placed  Franklin  portraits  upon  their  man 
tles  and  Franklin  stoves  in  their  chambers.  The  jokes  and 
wise  sayings  of  " Bonhomme  Richard"  were  circulated  by  the 
newspapers  throughout  the  kingdom.  The  "  Way  to  Wealth" 
was  translated  and  used  in  the  schools.  His  fame,  said  John 
Adams,  seemed  "  more  universal  than  that  of  Leibnitz  or 
Newton,  Frederic  or  Voltaire."  To  one  who  was  lamenting 


BEX  JAM  IX    FKAXKLIX.  189 

with  him  the  suffering  of  Washington's  army  at  Valley  Forge 
he  remarked,  "£a  ira,  £a  ira"  (It  will  all  come  right  in  the 
end);  these  words  were  treasured  in  the  memory  of  the  people, 
and  became  the  national  cry  in  their  own  great  revolution. 

Franklin's  duties  in  France  not  only  involved  great  respon 
sibility,  but  were  often  exceedingly  trying  and  burdensome, 
yet  he  always  performed  them  cheerfully  and  with  remarkable 
skill  and  success.  The  financial  difficulties  with  which  he  was 
constantly  harassed  are  suggested  by  a  passage  in  a  letter  to 
one  of  his  countrymen  who  was  urging  him  for  money  :  "  The 
continental  vessels  of  war  which  come  to  France  have  like 
wise  required  great  sums  of  us  to  furnish  and  refit  them,  and 
supply  the  men  with  necessaries.  The  prisoners,  too,  who 
escape  from  England  claim  a  very  expensive  assistance  from 
us,  and  are  much  dissatisfied  with  the  scanty  allowance  we  are 
able  to  afford  them.  The  interest  bills  above  mentioned,  of  the 
drawing  of  which  we  have  received  notice,  amount  to  two  mil 
lion  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  we  have  not  a  fifth  part 
of  the  sum  in  our  banker's  hands  to  answer  them  ;  and  large 
orders  to  us  from  Congress  for  supplies  of  clothing,  arms,  and 
ammunition  remain  uncomplied  with  for  want  of  money.  In 
this  situation  of  our  affairs  we  hope  you  will  not  insist  on  our 
giving  you  a  farther  credit  with  our  banker,  with  whom  we  are 
in  daily  danger  of  having  no  farther  credit  ourselves."  Once 
when  several  ships  loaded  with  American  products  for  sale  in 
France  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  he  remarked  reso 
lutely  :  "The  destroying  of  our  ships  by  the  English  is  only 
like  shaving  our  beards,  that  will  grow  again.  Their  loss  of 
provinces  is  like  the  loss  of  a  limb,  which  can  never  again  be 
united  to  their  body.1'  His  persistent  patience  and  skillful 
diplomacy  overcame  all  obstacles,  and  he  obtained  many  and 
large  sums  of  money,  both  as  gifts  and  loans,  without  which 
the  war  could  not  have  been  continued. 

Finally,  the  war  was  ended,  and  the  last  important  act  of 
Franklin's  long  and  illustrious  diplomatic  career  was  signing 
the  articles  of  peace  with  England.  To  his  friend  Mary  Ste 
venson  he  wrote  :  "  At  length  we  are  at  peace.  God  be  praised, 


190  BENJAMIN 

and  long,  very  long,  may  it  continue.  All  wars  are  follies,  very 
expensive,  and  very  mischievous  ones.  When  will  mankind 
be  convinced  of  this,  and  agree  to  settle  their  differences  by 
arbitration  ?  Were  they  to  do  it,  even  by  the  cast  of  a  die,  it 
would  be  better  than  by  fighting  and  destroying  each  other." 

Franklin  now  loved  France  as  he  had  once  loved  England, 
and  his  friends  urged  him  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  days  among 
them,  warning  him  of  the  danger  of  an  ocean  voyage  at  his 
advanced  age.  But  he  replied  :  ' '  The  desire  of  spending  the 
little  remainder  of  life  with  my  family  is  so  strong  as  to  deter 
mine  me  to  try  at  least  whether  I  can  bear  the  motion  of  the 
ship.  If  not,  I  must  get  them  to  set  me  ashore  somewhere  in 
the  Channel  and  content  myself  to  die  in  Europe."  He  was 
seventy-nine  years  old,  and  to  the  usual  infirmities  of  age 
were  added  frequent  and  painful  attacks  of  the  gout.  When 
the  time  of  his  departure  came,  the  queen  sent  him  her  own 
litter,  that  he  might  reach  his  ship  with  as  little  pain  as  possi 
ble,  and  from  the  king  he  received  a  portrait  of  his  Royal 
Majesty,  framed  in  a  double  circle  of  four  hundred  and  eight 
diamonds. 

On  the  morning  of  September  13,  1785,  Franklin  found 
himself  "  in  full  view  of  dear  Philadelphia."  His  arrival  was 
announced  by  a  discharge  of  cannon  and  the  ringing  of  all  the 
church-bells.  Crowds  of  his  fellow-citizens  greeted  him  at  the 
wharf  and  escorted  him  to  his  home.  He  was  immediately 
elected  a  member  of  the  city  council,  and  the  council  and  as 
sembly  then  made  him  president  of  the  commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania.  "I  had  not  firmness  enough,"  he  says,  "to 
resist  the  unanimous  desire  of  my  countryfolks;  and  I  find 
myself  harnessed  again  in  their  service  for  another  year. 
They  engrossed  the  prime  of  my  life.  They  have  eaten  my 
flesh,  and  seem  resolved  now  to  pick  my  bones." 

When  the  convention  met  to  frame  the  Constitution,  "  the 
venerable  Dr.  Franklin,"  as  people  now  called  him,  was  the 
most  conspicuous  member.  Madison  tells  us  that  while  the 
last  members  were  signing  the  important  document,  "Dr. 
Franklin,  looking  toward  the  president's  chair,  at  the  back  of 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN  191 

which  a  rising  sun  happened  to  be  painted,  observed  to  a  few 
members  near  him  that  painters  had  found  it  difficult  to  dis 
tinguish,  in  their  art,  a  rising  from  a  setting  sun.  '  I  have,' 
he  said,  '  often  and  often  in  the  course  of  the  session,  and  the 
vicissitudes  of  my  hopes  and  fears  as  to  its  issue,  looked  at 
that  behind  the  president  without  being  able  to  tell  whether 
it  was  rising  or  setting ;  but  now  at  length  I  have  the  happi 
ness  to  know  that  it  is  a  rising  and  not  a  setting  sun.'  M 

His  last  years  were  filled  with  suffering,  but  he  was  always 
cheerful,  and  while  his  body  was  racked  with  pain  his  mental 
faculties  remained  clear  and  vigorous.  In  1788  he  wrote : 
k  •  You  kindly  inquire  after  my  health.  I  have  not  of  late 
much  reason  to  boast  of  it.  People  that  will  live  a  long  life 
and  drink  to  the  bottom  of  the  cup  must  expect  to  meet  with 
some  of  the  dregs.  However,  when  I  consider  how  many 
more  terrible  maladies  the  human  body  is  liable  to,  I  think 
myself  well  off  that  I  have  only  three  incurable  ones :  the 
gout,  the  stone,  and  old  age ;  and,  those  notwithstanding,  I 
enjoy  many  comfortable  intervals,  in  which  I  forget  all  my 
ills,  and  amuse  myself  in  reading  or  writing,  or  in  conversa 
tion  with  friends,  joking,  laughing,  and  telling  merry  stories, 
as  when  you  first  knew  me,  a  young  man  about  fifty."  He 
once  said:  "I  often  hear  persons  whom  I  knew  when  chil 
dren  called  old  Mr.  Such-a-one,  to  distinguish  them  from 
their  sons,  now  men  grown  and  in  business  ;  so  that  by  living 
twelve  years  beyond  David's  period  I  seem  to  have  intruded 
myself  into  the  company  of  posterity,  when  I  ought  to  have 
been  abed  and  asleep." 

It  was  a  boon  of  providence  that  Franklin  was  permitted 
to  live  to  see  the  new  government  established,  and  his  hopes 
for  the  new  nation  realized.  When  "Washington  became 
president,  he  wrote  to  the  great  chieftain  :  "My  malady  ren 
ders  my  sitting  up  to  write  rather  painful  to  me  ;  but  I  cannot 
let  my  son-in-law,  Mr.  Bache,  depart  for  New  York  without 
congratulating  you  by  him  on  the  recovery  of  your  health,  so 
precious  to  us  all,  and  in  the  growing  strength  of  our  new 
government  under  your  administration.  For  my  own  per- 


192  BENJAMIN   FRAKKLIN". 

sonal  ease,  I  should  have  died  two  years  ago  ;  but  though, 
those  years  have  been  spent  in  excruciating  pain,  I  am  pleased 
that  I  have  lived  them,  since  they  have  brought  me  to  see  our 
present  situation.  I  am  now  finishing  my  eighty-fourth  year, 
and  probably  with  it  my  career  in  this  life  ;  but  whatever 
state  of  existence  I  am  placed  in  hereafter,  if  I  retain  my 
memory  of  what  has  passed  here^  I  shall  with  it  retain  the 
esteem,  respect,  and  affection  with  which  I  have  long  been, 
my  dear  friend,  yours  most  sincerely."  The  end  came  a  few 
months  later,  April  17,  1790.  It  was  fitting  that  these  words 
of  farewell  should  be  addressed  to  one  with  whom  he  divided 
the  highest  honors  of  the  Revolution,  for  no  other  one  of  the 
builders  of  our  nation  approaches  Washington  and  Franklin 
in  greatness  of  achievement  and  nobility  of  fame. 


DAY  USE 


LIBRARY 

TEl.  NO.  641-4209 


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LD23A  . 

rQ7721slO)4l86— A-d^,  J- 


Berkeley 


04C48 


M193160 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


